New stories reveal the stigma facing carers of older Australians with mental health conditions
Carers supporting older Australians with mental health conditions at home often face stigma that few people see, new research shows.
Carer Voices, an interactive digital storytelling gallery launched during National Carers Week (11 to 17 October), shares 11 video stories based on the experiences of family carers who support older people living at home with conditions including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
National data reveals that between 2018 and 2022, the number of in-home aged care recipients in Australia with a mental health condition surged 234 per cent.
Silverchain developed Carer Voices, drawing on surveys and interviews with carers in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. To protect carers' privacy, these stories are told using actors and representative images.
The interactive Carer Voices online gallery highlights the frequent and unfair assumptions, experienced by carers, leaving many feeling dismissed as they navigate complex care systems.
Lead researcher and Silverchain Research Fellow Dr Asmita Manchha said the project was developed to challenge common assumptions about what caregiving looks like when an older loved one lives with mental health conditions.
“Informal carers play a vital role in supporting older people with mental health conditions remain safe and independent in their own home, yet their contribution is too often overlooked,” Dr Manchha said.
“Carers frequently tell us they face judgement influenced by stigma related to caregiving and mental health. The public, workplaces, and even friends may discount the complexity of caregiving and reduce carers’ roles to simplistic assumptions.
“Through Carer Voices, we want the community, care providers, and policymakers to hear directly from carers about these everyday realities, so we can challenge stigma and ensure informal carers receive the practical support they deserve.” Dr Manchha said.
Helena Jakupovic, project co-investigator and carer representative, emphasised the dual emotional reality of caregiving captured in the Carer Voices project.
“When you care for a loved one whose mental health is deteriorating, the lack of community understanding can be deeply isolating,” Ms Jakupovic said.
“You are not only managing day-to-day care, but you are also constantly advocating against stereotypes and navigating a fragmented system.
“Yet, despite these barriers, many of us feel immense pride and meaning in what we do. Carer Voices gives carers a platform to be heard and valued as equal partners in care, rather than being pushed aside.”
Carer Voices has been funded by the Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration 2025 seed funding program and developed with support from Carers Victoria and Silverchain Foundation.
Silverchain will showcase Carer Voices as an interactive art exhibition at the Australian Association of Gerontology Conference in Melbourne from 10 to 13 November 2026.
Experience the Carer Voices gallery and watch the carers’ stories here.
Media contacts
Elliott Chipper | Senior Media Advisor
0401 365 520 | Elliott.Chipper@silverchain.org.au
