The Agewyz Podcast

Kristi Horner: Supporting Mental Health Caregivers

Episode Summary

In the U.S., as many as 8.4 million people act as caregivers to adults with emotional or mental health conditions. Kristi Horner's brother suffered from mental illness; after he committed suicide Kristi founded Courage to Caregivers, a non-profit focused exclusively on helping caregivers for a loved one with mental illness. She tells us how the non-profit is helping to break the stigma of mental illness.

Episode Notes

In the U.S., as many as 8.4 million people act as caregivers to adults with emotional or mental health conditions. That’s according to a recent report co-authored by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Mental health caregivers often have a heavier burden of care and higher stress levels than a typical family caregiver. One such caregiver who faced a heavy burden—and ultimately, heartbreak—is Kristi Horner, whose brother suffered from mental illness and took his own life. Kristi is the founder of Courage to Caregivers, a Northeast Ohio non-profit focused exclusively on helping caregivers for a loved one with mental illness. Jana talks with Kristi about her journey with her brother through mental illness, and about how Kristi’s organization is helping caregivers get past the stigma of mental illness by providing them with education, support and empowerment.

For a transcript of this episode click here: Transcript


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Courage to Caregivers direct dial: (216) 536-7699
Website: Courage to Caregivers
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers (NAC and NAMI)