Special Carers BRIDGE Forum Notes – June 2026

02 July 2026

Welcome to a special Carers BRIDGE Forum from Healthwatch Wirral, featuring insights from health, care, and community representatives working together to strengthen local services.

This BRIDGE Forum focused on hearing the voices of Carers who support people with additional mental health needs, and sharing what support is available to them in Wirral.

To find out more about Healthwatch Wirral’s BRIDGE Forum, click here.

Healthwatch Wirral and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) brought together Carers to share their experiences of supporting someone with mental health needs.

What We Heard

Carers shared their experiences, as well as the challenges they face with current mental health support.

• Carers often feel excluded from communication, with confidentiality and GDPR making it difficult to receive updates
• Many reported having to repeat information to different professionals, which can be exhausting
• Medical language and terminology can feel confusing or inaccessible
• Carers stressed that they are experts in the people they support and should be more involved in care discussions
• The importance of family input was highlighted, as patients may not always share key details
• There is limited peer support, particularly in hospital settings, where lived experience support could be beneficial
• Early intervention and greater awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, especially for young people, is needed

What Support Is Available?

Healthwatch Wirral and Cheshire & Wirral Partnership shared a range of tools that are available locally.

• Health Passports and Carer Passports to help professionals understand individual needs
• Social prescribing, offering personalised support for issues such as loneliness, stress, and long‑term conditions
• Local support services including Silk Family and Carers support service drop‑in sessions
• Peer support roles within services, including developments linked to the MHIST team

What’s Next?

The next forum will take place in person, with details to be confirmed.

For our full notes from this special BRIDGE Forum, click below.