#MHYALit: Who Cares for the Caregivers?

August 22, 2016 by Karen Jensen, MLS Leave a Comment

Who cares for the caregivers?

TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

I have a thing I want to say about depression/mental health. It will take a couple of tweets.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:00:01

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

When we lost a baby, several people reached out to us. When I was in bed rest, several people reached out to us. When my child had surgery

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:00:56

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Well, you get the point. When people are sick, we reach out to families because we understand that being a caregiver is hard.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:01:37

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Guess what, loving someone with a mental illness is also hard. It’s hard in spouses. It’s hard on children. And we don’t support those

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:02:26

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

caregivers in the same ways that we support caregivers in the face of other losses or illnesses. Dealing w/mental health can be lonely.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:03:11

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Part of it is, of course, because there is still so much stigma attached to mental health issues, so people stay silent.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:03:51

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Part of it is because I think we forget the illness part of mental illness. We focus on the word mental and not the word illness.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:04:35

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Part of it is, I’m sure, because we don’t know how or if or when to talk about it. Like, can you just call up a friend & ask how you are

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:05:45

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

hanging in there while your wife or mother is having a major depressive episode? It depends on the person & your friendship.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:06:31

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

For some people, they would appreciate a friendly text or a meal or just acknowledgment that they are a caregiver & it is challenging.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:07:25

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

If you are friends with someone & you know that their spouse/child/parent struggles, ask them how they would like you to acknowledge or not

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:08:49

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Some people just need to know that people are aware of their struggles and they are there if they ever need anything.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:10:01

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Some people just need to know that they don’t have to struggle through the wilderness alone.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:10:38

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TeenLibrarianToolbox @TLT16

Okay readers: I’m looking for examples of characters who have a parent/sibling w/a mental illness & their friends acknowledging/supporting

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:29:50

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heidi heilig @heidiheilig

@TLT16 iirc, the MC’s roommates and friends help the MC to understand/escape her mom (who is narcissistic) in THE FIRST TIME SHE DROWNED.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:31:35

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trevor ingerson @tingerson

@TLT16 CRAZY by Han Nolan is one word my favorite YAs of all time. Told in the format of a Greek tragedy. So good.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:31:41

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heidi heilig @heidiheilig

@TLT16 & (to tackily toot my own horn) in THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE the MC’s father is bipolar/an addict, & her friends/crew are supportive.

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:33:26

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Evelyn Lukey @Voronochka262

@TLT16 Cath from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:46:05

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Tully Family @tullymonsters

@TLT16 The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Mon, Aug 22 2016 00:32:25

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Camillia @pgtwentythree

@TLT16 @YAIndulgences Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Mon, Aug 22 2016 00:46:20

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Amber @YAIndulgences

@TLT16 I think The Weight of Zero is supposed to have a good support system.

Mon, Aug 22 2016 00:47:04

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sara @bookchic13

@TLT16 @YAIndulgences Alexi from Faking Normal has Blue and Sam from Every Last Word has her fam and the poetry corner.

Mon, Aug 22 2016 01:21:49

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Tristina Wright ✨@TristinaWright

@jclillis @TLT16 it’s not out until 2017 but GRENDEL’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND WAR by AE Kaplan. MC’s dad has PTSD.

Mon, Aug 22 2016 02:12:38

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About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 32 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).