Welcome to the Edinburgh Carers Council website.

Within this website you will find information about what we are as an organistion and the services we offer. This website is aimed primarily at carers but will be informative for anyone with an interest in caring and mental health issues.

Who is a carer?

A carer may be a family member, partner or friend who supports or cares for a person with mental health difficulties. Carers may or may not live with the person they support, and they may or may not carry out physical tasks. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 defines a carer as;

 • (s329) “an individual (other than a paid or voluntary worker) who provides, on a regular basis, a substantial amount of care for, and support to, the person; and includes, in the case where the person is in hospital, an individual who, before the person was admitted to hospital, provided on a regular basis, a substantial amount of care for, and support to, the person”

 • irrespective of diagnosis, living situation, etc.

  What is Edinburgh Carers Council?

We are an independent organisation which is carer-led in its developments and, available to carers in Edinburgh who support someone who uses mental health services or who has mental health difficulties.

We provide carers with information with information about all aspects of mental health care and services and support for them as carers. In addition, we ensure that the views and needs of carers are included at all stages of the planning. development and implementation of mental health services in Edinburgh.

How do we do this?

We provide:

• information for carers
• advocacy and representation
• learning opportunities for carers
• awareness training for service professionals

What we believe

Carers need:

• to be respected
• their views and opinions to be heard
• to be taken seriously
• recognition of the importance of their contribution
• to be valued
• opportunities for breaks from caring
• practical and emotional support at different stages
• information on things which will assist them to care effectively while maintaining their own health and quality of life
• information about services for those they support
• access to services which reflect cultural, religious and racial differences and values
• to be consulted at all levels of planning, development and implementation of services.