Young carer Ryan has documented his experiences on video as part of a project co-created by our early intervention in psychosis team and Trust carers to highlight the importance of carer voices.
Here is his story:
Sporty Teesside youngster Ryan enjoys playing basketball and football and having fun with his dog. He is also a carer for his mum.
“It was scary at first, because I didn’t know what was going on. My mam got put in hospital, stayed for a bit, then got put into assisted living,” he said.
“When I found out, I think I was a bit scared, then worried. I was used to seeing her every day, then there were certain days I could see her, and days I couldn’t.
“It was weird, sad, until I realised this was how it was going to work from now on, on a schedule.”
Checking in to care
Ryan’s mum was moved between hospitals several times during her mental health treatment, which limited his visits at times.
However, now she has moved into assisted living, he is able to visit her much more often – and helps out as much as he can.
“I can just be there, check up on her,” he said.
Ryan was just ten when his mum became ill, and he struggled to understand what was happening to her at the time.
He sometimes found it difficult, because he missed out on football matches and fun activities, but never stopped trying to look after his mum.
Helping out at home
“When my mam got poorly, I had to do a lot more, like letting the dogs out, caring for the dogs, feeding them. I was also helping my mam cook,” he said.
“My mam was still the same person, but some days she felt poorly, and it felt like she was a different person. When she was well it was good.
“Most people wouldn’t understand. It’s hard to understand really unless you are there. If you have someone to talk to it gets easier, but if you don’t it’s hard.”
Ryan is now 12 and, looking back over the past two years, he has come to understand how mental health can leave people struggling.
“People can be in hospital for different reasons. She’s just a normal person at the end of the day, she’s just different,” he said.
- Watch Ryan’s video and look out for more carer videos every day this week.
