The Red Cross of Serbia and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are today, on 30 November 2020 at 11:00 organising international online conference “Mental Health of Informal Caregivers”.

The link for the conference is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87846647738

Informal caregivers have a central role in providing long term care at global level. It is estimated that 80% of all care services are provided by family members, relatives, friends and neighbours. At the conference, the Red Cross of Serbia will present the results of a research implemented in July and August 2020 about the effects of providing informal care (especially during the COVID-19 epidemic) on the mental health of informal carers.  Based on research findings, the recommendations for public policy development were formulated in order to improve the quality of life, promote better mental health of informal caregivers and develop services for their support.

798 persons from 41 municipalities in Serbia participated in the research. The age of the interviewed informal caregivers varied between 18 – of the youngest participant – and 92 – of the eldest one. Majority of informal caregivers provide care to one person (84.9%) with 12.6% providing care to two persons and 2.6% providing care to three or more. The research results show that symptoms of mild depression could be registered among 11.2% of informal caregivers with 8.6% exhibiting symptoms of moderate depression. Seven percent of the interviewed caregivers have symptoms of severe depression.

The participants of the discussion at the conference will include

• Ljubomir Miladinović, Secretary General, Red Cross of Serbia
• Nevena Šović, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
• Nataša Todorović, Red Cross of Serbia
• Prof. dr Nataša Milić, Medical faculty of the University Belgrade
• Dr Milutin Vračević, Red Cross of Serbia