Isolation increases anxiety for carers in Queensland

Isolation increases anxiety for unpaid carers in Queensland, Carers Queensland’s Quality of Life Audit 2019 has revealed.

At the launch of National Carers Week in Brisbane last Friday, Jim Toohey, Chair of Carers Queensland released details of the Survey Report.

This year’s Quality of Life Audit examined responses from more than 500 carers in Queensland, with data showing that 39% of carers are experiencing chronic anxiety and 30% identify as socially isolated.

The study also highlights the low role recognition and respect that carers currently face and how mental and physical health of 57% of the respondents had worsened as a result of their caring responsibilities.

Mr Toohey said that carers are an invisible and unpaid workforce that provides 1.9 billion hours of care nationally, and it would cost the country $60.3 billion per year to replace those supports – that’s over $1 billion per week.

“The link between mental health illnesses and social isolation is real. This is not uncommon among the more than 400,000 unpaid carers in Queensland, “Mr Toohey said.

“Chronic anxiety is just one symptom of the social isolation they experience as a result of their caring role,” he said.

“The implication is clear, if carers are not feeling connected to their communities, families, circle of friends or workplace, the effects on their mental health is quite serious,” he said.

“When they start to feel anxious they tend to withdraw even further and become more isolated and self-absorbed, rather than reaching out for contact, which is one of the best antidotes for anxiety,” he added.

The data generated by the recent Quality of Life Survey demonstrates that caring relationships, particularly those of a longer duration or very intense responsibilities, do have a negative effect on the health and wellbeing of carers.

“Without access to the appropriate support services at the right time, caring families will continue to experience lower quality of life than other population groups,” Mr Toohey said.

“We work with all caring families throughout Queensland to improve their quality of life; we are dedicated to making their lives better,” he said.

The Quality of Life Audit is an integral component of Carers Queensland’s advocacy work on issues relevant to caring families.

The survey measures and reflects the environment of caring families as they adapt to significant changes in the disability, mental health and aged care sectors and in social welfare policy.

Other key findings:

• 49% provide 12 or more hours of care and support per day
• 42% of respondents of working age believe that their caring role is not recognised or supported with their community
• 59% are reliant on Centrelink or personal savings
• 47% live in a household with a combined income of less than $40,000 per year
• 19% are lonely most of the time
• 26% are dissatisfied with their ability to access educational and learning opportunities
• On average, only 4% of respondents are completely satisfied with their current quality of life.

Download the 2019 Quality of Life Survey here.

Carers Queensland gratefully appreciates the funding support from the Queensland Government to assist with regional activities during Carers Week 2019.

For media enquiries contact:

Rosa Rois
Communications Officer
P: (07) 3900 8100
E: rrois@carersqld.com.au