I have learned more in 2 hours about what its like to both suffer from schizophrenia and be a carer to a sufferer than I have ever done before through weighty textbooks.

I can say in all honesty now that I have not given the carers the support that they need I had no idea how hard their lives can be, from now on I will give them far more consideration.

I am aware that carers are wandering on and off the ward all day but as I am often busy I don,t really take a lot of notice , I will consider them far more after this session.

I have always thought that the patient is the only one that I should consider I can see that the carers need our support too this session has completely changed my whole attitude.

In future I will offer the carers a cup of tea and a chat , after all if we don,t look after them too where would their loved ones be.

This session has really made me think and also realise how much a kind word a smile could make such a difference. Their lives are so taken up with the caring role I really had no idea how tired they must be, we find it hard but at least at the end of the shift we can go home and switch off for them its so relentless, my whole attitude towards carers has changed now.