Is there any support available for carers?

Q. I care for my relative and it is taking a toll on my own mental health. Is there any support as I don't want to be a burden? A. Yes, your council might be able to arrange practical help for you so that you can care for the person you look after more effectively and to reduce any stress you are under.

- SHARON HAMPSON, RUTHERGLEN & CAMBUSLANG CITIZENS' ADVICE BUREAU MANAGER, ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

This could include things like arranging for someone else to step in for a while to give you a break or providing some extra support for the person you look after to give you more time for your other responsibilities.

Contact the council covering the area where the person you care for lives. You may be able to do this online through the council's website. Tell them you're a carer and ask them for an Adult Carer Support Plan.

You can ask for an Adult Carer Support Plan at any time and you can also ask for a review if your needs change or you need more support.

There is no set time limit in which the council must draw up your Adult Carer Support Plan although it should be done within a reasonable time.

The council should give you an idea of how long it is likely to take. See https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/info/200220/carers_and_caring/2243/are_you_a_carer/6

Q. My mental health is poor. Is there help I can get?

A. See your GP. There are resources on NHS Inform which can offer support.

Everyone has spells of feeling down, but depression is more than just spending a few days feeling sad or unhappy. Depression can make you feel persistently sad and down for weeks or months at a time.

While some people believe that depression is trivial or not a genuine health problem, it's actually a real condition that affects around one in 10 people over the course of their lives.

See the self help guide https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/depression/#depression-self-help-guide

Q. What is Mind to Mind?