UEA launches £1.23 million project to support dementia carers
By: Communications
Researchers at the University of East Anglia are launching a £1.23 million project to help the carers of people living with dementia improve their own mental health.
They have created a digital therapy platform to support carers, which can be accessed via a mobile phone, laptop, or tablet – thanks to funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
And they are looking for 500 people in England to test it out.
Lead researcher Dr Naoko Kishita, from UEA’s School of Health Sciences, said: “We know family carers of those living with dementia are at higher risk of mental health problems.
“Our goal is to make a digital platform available across the UK and support them in their important work.
“The therapy focuses on helping people handle difficult or troubling thoughts and feelings, whilst taking actions that are important to them, like looking after their own health.
“We believe this system could be a powerful tool to support family carers, who we know are vulnerable to mental health issues. And we hope that the online platform we have created will help improve the psychological well-being of carers.”
The team are looking for people, who are adult carers looking after family members living with dementia, to test out the new digital platform across England.
Half of the participants will be allocated to receive this new digital therapy called iACT4CARERS, while the other half will not be given access to the platform.
Participants allocated to receive the digital therapy will be asked to complete eight online sessions. They will also be assigned a therapist to support them in completion of sessions through weekly feedback and one-to-one calls during the course.
Participants will need to be experiencing worry or stress, and have access to a smartphone, computer or tablet, and the internet.
This research is being funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
For more information or to take part, visit https://iact4carers.com/take_part
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