Caring for the Caregiver: A Conversation for World Mental Health Day 10.10.2026

10 October 2026 was a meaningful day for me.

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day, I had the privilege of speaking at World Mental Health Day celebrations hosted at MAHSA University, in collaboration with the Malaysia Mind Body Medicine Practitioner Association, MAHSA Avenue International College, and the Archdiocesan Mental Health Ministry (AMHM).

The topic of my session was close to my heart:

Care for the Caregiver

We often talk about caring for patients, clients, family members, and loved ones. Yet, we rarely stop to ask:

"Who is taking care of the caregiver?"

Whether you are a healthcare professional, counsellor, therapist, teacher, parent, spouse, or someone caring for an ageing family member, the reality is the same. Caring for others can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting.

During the session, I shared practical tools that caregivers can use in daily life to support their own wellbeing, including gentle breathing techniques, mindfulness, grounding exercises, reframing difficult thoughts, and developing healthier self-talk.

One part that resonated strongly with participants was when I shared a little about my own caregiving journey.

My beloved grandmother is now 96 years old and has been bedridden for over a decade. Like many caregivers, my family and I experience the repeated questions, the worries, the uncertainty, and the emotional ups and downs that come with caring for someone we love. This personal experience reminds me that caregiving is not just a professional topic. It is a deeply human one.

Throughout the session, I encouraged participants to remember:

✅ You do not have to do everything alone.✅ Rest is not selfish.✅ Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.✅ Small actions repeated consistently create meaningful change.✅ Your wellbeing matters too.

One exercise we explored was the simple 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique, a practical tool that helps bring our attention back to the present moment when stress or overwhelm begins to take over. We also discussed how changing the way we speak to ourselves can influence how we experience challenges. Instead of "Don't make a mistake", we can remind ourselves, "I can take one step at a time."

Mental health is not only about managing crises. It is also about creating small moments of care, compassion, and awareness in our everyday lives.

As I looked around the room that day, I was reminded that behind every caregiver is a person carrying responsibilities, hopes, fears, and emotions that are often unseen. Sometimes, what they need most is not another task or another expectation. Sometimes, they simply need permission to pause.

To everyone who spends their days caring for others:

Thank you.

Your effort matters, even when it goes unnoticed. Your care makes a difference, even when the results are not immediately visible. And most importantly, you deserve the same kindness and compassion that you so freely give to others.

Let's continue building communities where caring for mental health is not an afterthought, but a shared responsibility.

Because caregivers need care too.

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