Caring for carers a great choice on World Mental Health day - Burstow

1.27.36pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Oct 2006

MP for Sutton and Cheam, Paul Burstow, visited a stress and relaxation workshop aimed at people caring for others at home today, as part of World Mental Health day.

Organisations from more than 100 countries are holding mental health events throughout the week in recognition of the day. In Sutton, Mental Health Workers from the Sutton and Merton Primary Care trust have decided to focus their efforts on volunteer carers working in the community.

Carers can often feel overstretched and isolated, so the aim of the workshop is to provide information and advice on simple stress-reduction practices including relaxation methods with music, progressive muscle relaxation and visualisation techniques. The team organising the event hope that this will be the first of a number of similar events aimed at carers.

Commenting after the event, Paul Burstow MP said:

"Caring for someone full-time can be a thankless task, sometimes leaving the carers feeling isolated and worn out, without the support they need."

"This workshop is a great step forward in caring for the people in our community who care for others - providing them the tools to keep doing the valuable job that they do."