Published Research
Supporting Those Who Support Others: Can We Do More for Carers Experiencing Abuse?
Caring for someone you love is demanding. It’s an act of commitment, compassion, and resilience. Yet for many carers — often unpaid, under-recognised, and working in isolation — this responsibility comes with immense emotional and physical strain.
Now, imagine carrying that responsibility while also living with abuse.
A new study by Emilie K. Wildman, Hannah Dickson, Deirdre MacManus, Sally McManus, Elizabeth Kuipers, and Juliana Onwumere sheds light on this deeply concerning but often overlooked issue. The research reveals that carers exposed to domestic violence and abuse are more than twice as likely to experience depression, chronic pain, and disrupted sleep compared to those not living with abuse.
A Hidden Health Crisis
This is not a marginal issue — it is a hidden health crisis that sits at the intersection of caregiving, inequality, and violence.
Carers play an essential role in sustaining the health and wellbeing of others, yet when abuse becomes part of their reality, their own health deteriorates rapidly. The physical, emotional, and psychological burdens they carry are often compounded by stigma, fear, and a lack of recognition within health and social care systems.
Despite the growing evidence base, carers experiencing abuse remain largely invisible in policy and practice. Their needs are seldom identified, their voices rarely heard, and the systems designed to protect and support them often overlook the complexity of their situation.
Evidence Offers Hope
The study also highlights a way forward. The authors argue that embedding domestic abuse screening and support into routine health and social care could transform outcomes for carers.
By identifying those at risk early and providing appropriate interventions, professionals can not only reduce harm but also interrupt cycles of violence and poor health that affect carers and those they care for.
Crucially, the findings reinforce the need for training, awareness, and cross-sector collaboration — ensuring that carers are not left to navigate abuse and caregiving alone.
Aligning with Our Mission
At Collective Action for Race Equity in Health and Social Care (CARE-HSC), we are committed to centring carers’ lived experiences and dismantling the structural barriers that perpetuate harm.
This study underscores why that work is so vital. Supporting carers — particularly those facing intersecting inequalities related to race, gender, class, or disability — requires systemic change, compassionate policy, and inclusive practice.
Recognising the dual burden carers face is the first step toward building care systems that are safer, fairer, and more responsive to everyone’s needs.
Read the full study: Health Morbidities in Carers with Experience of Domestic Violence and Abuse
Read the article here
Work with us
Be part of our mission to create equitable health and social care systems. Together, we can make a difference.