Grant to help carers with mental health

Crossroads Isle of Man offers practical support to carers of all ages

Carers on the Isle of Man struggling with their mental health are to be offered psychological support by a charity.

Crossroads, which offers practical support and respite to those with caring responsibilities, will provide the service.

It follows a £100,000 grant for the project by the Manx Lottery Trust.

Crossroad chief executive officer Jackie Betteridge said it would make "monumental difference for the wonderful carers on our island".

A recent survey carried out by the charity on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care found many carers were struggling with their mental health.

It said the grant would be used train and employ two mental health workers.

The roles will be designed to offer mental health support to carers and their loved ones to help them cope with any trauma they may be dealing with.

Listening practitioner Carlie Maddrell will take up one of the new posts

The successful candidates will receive accredited mental health and trauma training, mediation and intensive interaction training, and counselling training.

Listener practitioner Carlie Maddrell has already been selected for one of the posts, enabling support to be offered straight away.

The new service will also act as a signposting service to other organisations, including Isle Listen, Cruse Bereavement, and Manx Care's community mental health services.

Ms Betteridge said: “In recent years, we have all seen how increasingly apparent mental health issues have become and we recognise that more needs to be done to support carers on their journey.”

The new funding would allow the charity become “dedicated to supporting carers and their families in every aspect”, she added.