“ I didn ’ t realise I was a carer until someone pointed it out to me , because when you ’ re a mum you ’ re caring for your child from the day they ’ re born .”
Genevieve Morris finds balance in her career and caregiving
Actress and comedian Genevieve Morris joined the estimated 2.65 million unpaid carers in Australia when her daughter , now aged 18 , was diagnosed with mental illness .
For the past five years , her family has been navigating anxiety , depression , borderline personality disorder , an eating disorder , suicidal ideation , paranoia and drug and alcohol abuse .
“ I didn ’ t realise I was a carer until someone pointed it out to me , because when you ’ re a mum you ’ re caring for your child from the day they ’ re born . But in this sense , being a carer involves taking my daughter to a multitude of medical appointments , supporting her mental health , navigating tricky schooling and hospital stays , and being an advocate ,” says Genevieve .
Like many carers , Genevieve found the demands of being a carer hugely impacted her ability to work and be independent – or even to simply find time for herself .
“ I ’ ve had to scale back on work . I haven ’ t been able to work interstate for several years and there have been times when I ’ ve had to ask my agent to just not contact me for a period of time . I ’ ve had to say , ‘ I ’ m not an actor , I ’ m not a presenter , I ’ m not a comedian . I just need to be a mother and a carer .’”
Genevieve has found accessing information and becoming part of a local carers network helpful on her carer journey . Genevieve especially enjoyed an art therapy program she took part in .
8 | The Caring Way