World first app bridges support gap for young carers

The new app will act like a counsellor in carers’ pockets, allowing them to self-report stress levels daily, before helping them with practical activities to reduce stress and improve their wellbeing.

Research Fellow and app developer Dr Linda Hartley-Clark, from Deakin’s Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development within the School of Psychology, said carers aged 18 to 25 had the highest prevalence of mental health disorders of any other age group, and were known for their reluctance to seek help in person to manage their mental health.

“This app gets around that problem by delivering the support straight to the carers via their phones, saving them from even having to ask someone for help, offering flexibility and anonymity,” she said.

Dr Hartley-Clark said most research on young carers conducted in Australia reported on the experiences of those under the age of 18, therefore not much was known about the impact of caregiving on young adults.

“What we do know is that young adult caregivers typically understand the support they give is very important and are happy to give it, but that doesn’t stop them from often feeling overwhelmed and stressed out,” she said.

“For some young people, what they do to support their loved one’s needs is so important that it starts to define who they are. That means they can get so caught up in the world of supporting those they care about, that they can lose sight of who they want to be in the world.

“Given young adults are faced with making important life choices which will largely dictate their future, it’s important that we provide these carers with the skills to not just get by, but to get on and thrive in life.”

Dr Hartley-Clark said her team had developed the Stress-Less mobile app, in partnership with leading mutual organisation Australian Unity, as a means to better understand how young adult caregivers bounce-back from daily stress and hassles, as well as offering a five-week stress management program delivered through the app.

 “Just as a trained therapist relies on various treatment approaches to suit a client’s needs, the Stress-Less mobile app is based on various therapeutic approaches, which are successful at treating negative mood states and for building resilience,” she said.

“These include cognitive behaviour therapy, mindfulness therapy, behavioural activation, acceptance and commitment therapy, and positive psychology.

“So the app will allow us to help young people using proven methods, but in a way that is simple, accessible and relevant to this age group.”

The Stress-Less mobile app has been launched in the lead up to National Carers Week (16 to 22 October) and is inviting young carers aged 18 to 25 to take part in a five-week trial.

Carers can find out more about the program or sign up to take part by emailing Dr Linda Hartley-Clark at stressless.app@deakin.edu.au or by visiting goo.gl/08tAKU.