Guest Author
Across Florida, millions of caregivers are providing the kind of day-to-day support for their loved ones that keeps our health care system running — managing medications, coordinating appointments, taking time off work to provide transportation, advocating for loved ones, and offering emotional comfort around the clock.
But too often, they do it quietly, without recognition, and without the support they need for their own mental health. This is particularly true of the many caregivers in the state of Florida that we have worked with who are navigating hospice care with their loved ones.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we must acknowledge a truth that caregivers know all too well: while they focus on someone else’s health, their own emotional well-being is often left behind. Caregivers can feel extreme guilt when they prioritize their mental health because they feel it is selfish, but it is an imperative part of being a caregiver.
The stress that can come with the role of a caregiver impacts mental health in numerous ways. Caregiving can often be isolating. It’s physically demanding, emotionally draining, and financially straining. Whether it’s for a parent with dementia, a child with special needs, or a spouse at the end of life, the role of a caregiver is one of profound responsibility — and invisible burden.
Research shows that caregivers are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and burnout than the general population. Yet access to mental health resources tailored to their unique needs remains limited. This also speaks to why it’s so important for health care providers, policymakers, and community organizations to expand mental health services that meet caregivers where they are.
At Caregiver Action Network, we hear every day from caregivers who are doing everything they can to support their loved ones at the expense of their own health. That’s why we have created resources like our 10 Tips for Family Caregivers: Balancing Caregiving and Self-Care, Caregiver Self-Care Checklist: Managing Stress & Support Groups, and Understanding Caregiver Stress Syndrome & Strategies for Coping. We want to normalize self-care and conversations around mental health for caregivers.
We also need to build more partnerships with organizations that deeply understand the caregiver’s role. Hospice providers like Gentiva, for example, recognize that support for caregivers is essential, not just during a loved one’s final days but also in the months that follow. Programs that offer grief counseling, 24/7 nurse access, and respite resources help ease the emotional load and provide families with something rare in the caregiving journey: peace of mind.
Florida’s caregivers are doing heroic work, often in silence. This month, and every month, we owe them to listen, respond, and ensure they’re not carrying that weight alone. Prioritizing caregiver mental health is not just a personal issue — it’s a public one. When we support caregivers, we strengthen families, communities, and the entire health care system.
Let’s make Mental Health Awareness Month more than a message — let’s make it a movement for Florida’s caregivers.
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Nichole Goble is the director of Community Engagement at Caregiver Action Network, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization serving more than 105.6 million family caregivers.
