In today’s world, carers play a bigger role in the overall development of our loved ones. They’re holding families together, supporting people with complex needs, and doing so with zero complaining.
Whether it’s helping a patient with dementia, supporting a partner with chronic illness, or caring for a person with disability, millions of carers put in their effort every single day. But while they manage others’ needs with care and compassion, their own mental health often goes unnoticed.
Carers Week 2025 is a timely reminder that carers need care too, especially when it comes to their emotional and mental wellbeing. Let’s discuss in this blog what Carers Week is, why it is celebrated, and what message this week holds.
What is Carers Week?
Carers Week is a UK wide annual campaign taking place this year from 9-15 June 2025, dedicated to reognising and celebrating the millions of unpaid carers who support family and friends living with illness, disability, mental health issues or addiction.
It’s a moment not to applaud their contributions, but also to raise awareness about the challenges they face and encourage society to do better.
Why is Carers Week Celebrated?
Carers Week is celebrated to highlight the hidden struggles and inequalities faced by unpaid carers. While formal healthcare systems have clear support pathways, unpaid carers often struggle for the care and respect they deserve.
This week is a spotlight on:
- The challenges carers face
- The gaps in support and services
- The need for society and the political level change
- And above all, the mental, emotional, and physical toll of caring long-term
Working as a carer, stress often becomes a part of life, but it needs to be carefully examined and treated.
What is the Theme for 2025?
The theme for Carers Week 2025 is “Caring about Equality”.
This year’s theme focuses on inequalities carers experience, including the impact on mental health.
This year’s theme focuses on inequalities carers experience, including the impact on mental health.
Many carers:
- Feel unsupported
- Experience anxiety, burnout, and depression
- Put their own health, relationships, and goals on hold
- Struggle to access therapy or mental health services
By highlighting mental health and well-being, Carers Week 2025 is sending a powerful message that carers, too, deserve equal access to support, respect, and opportunities.
Why Carers’ Mental Health Matters?
Unpaid carers are the invisible backbone of our society. They take care of the home, provide emotional and physical support, and often sacrifice their own well-being to ensure someone else’s. But most often their contributions go unrecognised, and their struggles remain unheard.
Loneliness, burnout, stress, anxiety, and guilt are the common feelings felt by a carer during their work life. Over time, these feelings can build up and lead to serious mental health issues. But carers often neglect these signs and put themselves last every time.
That’s why this conversation matters. Because mental health is a necessity, not an option.
Important Focus Dates During Carers Week 2025
Each day of Carers Week 2025 explains how inequality affects carers. Although mental health and wellness are a major focus on Saturday, 14 June, it runs throughout the week.
Here’s the list of the days that fall under this week:
Monday: Health and Social Care
Better integration of mental health support in carer services.
Better integration of mental health support in carer services.
Tuesday: Financial Well Being
Addressing stress and mental load linked to financial instability.
Addressing stress and mental load linked to financial instability.
Wednesday: Work and Employment
Supporting carers’ mental health at the workplace through flexible policies.
Supporting carers’ mental health at the workplace through flexible policies.
Thursday: Younger Carers
Tackling anxiety, emotional pressure, and isolation in young people who care.
Tackling anxiety, emotional pressure, and isolation in young people who care.
Friday: Older Carers
Recognising the unique stressors older carers face, often with declining health themselves.
Recognising the unique stressors older carers face, often with declining health themselves.
Saturday: Mental Health and Wellbeing
A dedicated day for sharing resources, hosting wellbeing sessions, and promoting self-care tools for carers.
A dedicated day for sharing resources, hosting wellbeing sessions, and promoting self-care tools for carers.
Sunday: Reflection on Carers Week
A time to acknowledge progress and re-commit to ongoing support.
A time to acknowledge progress and re-commit to ongoing support.
How Can You Support Carers’ Mental Health
Whether you’re a friend, neighbour, or employer, you can make a difference in the following ways.
1. Start a conversation
Simply asking a carer how they’re doing can open doors of conversation.
2. Encourage breaks
Offer to help or connect them with respite care services.
3. Promote access to support
Share mental health resources specifically for carers.
4. Challenge stigma
Let carers know it’s okay to ask for help, and they don’t have to “hold it all together.”
5. Get involved
Join or host local events, participate in online campaigns, or support carer charities.
Final Thoughts
Carers Week is a reminder as well as an opportunity to resolve the inequalities faced by unpaid carers. Most often, carers are expected to suffer in silence, but emotional well-being is important and crucial too.
This week is a turning point where everyone needs to understand that carers are not superhuman, instead, they also deserve space, respect, humanity, and support they truly need.
If you need someone to talk to, consult Dr Kavita Deepak-Knights for a one-on-one therapy session tailored to the carer’s needs.
We’re always here to help you at each step and stage!
