Online support: The potential of the internet as a means of supporting carers of individuals with enduring mental illness

When an individual is experiencing a mental illness, this can also have a significant impact on their carers, often comprising of family members or friends. Carers can provide both invaluable physical and emotional support (a role that can last up to 24 hours a day, 7 days week) to their relative who, without which, would otherwise struggle to cope. Carers are seen to be an essential component of holistic mental health care. There is a move to encourage carer collaboration with professionals in the UK, in terms of their relative’s care, one key example of this being the Triangle of Care (see Worthington & Rooney, 2016). This strives for a partnership between carer, professional and service user for the provision of treatment and support, improving carer involvement within care planning.