CARERS SERVICE
About us
“Being part of the group gave me back my voice. For the first time, I felt heard and able to speak up — not just silently agreeing, but truly part of the conversation.”
This powerful reflection from a carer captures the heart of what we do at Mind in Bexley Carers Service. Caring for someone with a mental health condition, alcohol use, or substance use issue can be overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting, but it can also be a role filled with love, resilience, and extraordinary strength. Our service exists to ensure that carers are not left to carry this weight alone.
We provide support, information, and advice to carers who are looking after, or affected by, an adult relative or friend’s mental health, alcohol, or substance use challenges. Whether you need someone to listen, practical guidance, or help navigating complex services, we are here to stand beside you.
Who Can Access Our Service?
Our support is available if you are:
Registered with a Bexley GP or living in the London Borough of Bexley, or
Caring for an adult relative or friend who lives in Bexley.
To register, please complete an online referral form
How to Access Support
Getting help is simple. You can:
- Call us on 0203 912 0030 – our voicemail is checked regularly throughout the day.
- Complete our online referral form – quick, confidential, and easy to use.
Carers may self-refer, or a professional who knows you and your family well can refer on your behalf
Recognising Carers as True Partners in Care
We believe carers are not just supporters, they are experts through experience. Your insight, knowledge, and dedication are invaluable in shaping care that truly meets the needs of your loved one. At Mind in Bexley, we:
- Champion your voice – ensuring carers are heard in decisions that affect them and the person they care for.
- Promote your wellbeing – recognising that your needs matter as much as those of the person you support.
- Advocate for carer involvement – working to ensure mental health services see carers as partners, not afterthoughts.
Carers bring a unique understanding, forged through lived experience, and this expertise deserves recognition and respect. The involvement of carers when someone with mental health difficulties is unwell is not optional, it is crucial to recovery.
The Triangle of Care
Our approach is guided by the Triangle of Care, developed by the Carers Trust, which sets out best practice for involving carers in mental health services. The model highlights the importance of partnership between:
- The person experiencing mental health difficulties,
- The professionals providing treatment and care, and
- The carer, who offers daily support, understanding, and encouragement.
By embedding this model into our work, we ensure carers are recognised as equal partners in care, helping to build stronger recovery pathways, healthier families, and a more compassionate community.
Visit our Carers Exhibition: “Navigating the Journeys of Unpaid Mental Health Carers”
The Mind in Bexley Carers Exhibition is grounded in the oral testimonies of residents in Bexley who provide care for individuals experiencing mental distress. The project was initiated and co-produced by carers working with the mental health charity Mind in Bexley, reflecting a collaborative approach that prioritises the voices and experiences of those directly involved in caregiving.
