PTSD Love Stories

One in ten Australians – 2.65 million people in 2018 – are carers. Our goal is to increase awareness of some of the everyday issues and challenges faced by Australian caregivers and their families; as well as highlight the services, community awareness activities and quality programs available.

We will work with our impact partners to disseminate the “PTSD Love Stories” documentary. We will call on members of the general public to get involved through social media and start a conversation about self-care – using the theme “Who Cares for the Carers?” People will encourage friends, neighbours and family members who may need to focus on self-care to take time out for respite.

In 2021, the half-hour version was screened on ABC Compass. It gained over 456,000 viewers and an additional 9000 viewers on iView. Feedback from carers and PTSD sufferers about a screening of this version in Carers Week was highly positive and allowed people to start a conversation about their own experiences. We have over 3,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram combined. The 8 Episodes of our first ‘Live Broadcast’ have been viewed over 6,500 times and the ‘Our Journey’ video has been viewed 2,400 times.

Now that the feature version of the film is completed, we aim to:
– Start conversations and create a buzz on social media #WhoCaresForTheCarers;
– Organise community screenings nationally in 2024 during Carers Week, Thank a First Responder Day and the various days of commemoration;
– Create resources, available on the film website, to help direct the audience to the right mental health support services; and
– Create a Study Guide available for high school students.

We have secured Carers Queensland, Carers NT, Carers NSW, and Carers Tasmania as impact partners. We are interested in partnering with organisations that support Carers, Mental Health and Arts to support the social impact campaign phase.

We hope those who are suffering, those who care for loved ones and the wider community will recognise the benefits of caregivers taking time out. We want carers to join creative arts community programs and socialise or at the very least to consider the benefits of self-care. Listen to music, paint, read a book, get a massage, go surfing, go for a walk, ride a bike, try a new craft, go see a band, get a facial or buy some new clothes….just take time out from being a caregiver and do something that brings joy!