A PRACTICAL guide to help those caring for people with mental health problems has been launched in Darlington.

Backed by funds from Darlington Social Services, the guide includes basic information about mental health and suggests where carers can get help and support.

The 13-section guide, produced by Darlington Carers Support Project, and printed by the local mental health trust, is intended to meet the needs of people who feel they are sometimes overlooked.

It was launched at The King's Head Hotel, in Darlington, by The Northern Echo's editor Peter Barron. Several years ago, The Northern Echo won the Mind mental health charity newspaper of the year award for its campaign to highlight the scandal of unmarked graves at the former Winterton psychiatric hospital.

Mr Barron told carers and project workers that he commended the new guide and hoped it would be a great success.

"I think we have made progress in the way mental health issues are reported, but newspapers have to be vigilant about the language we use," he said.

Mr Barron said early discussions were going on about some form of awards ceremony to recognise the "enormous good work" carried out by carers in the region.

One Darlington carer, who has a teenage son recovering from schizophrenia, said: "If I had had a copy of this guide when my son was ill a few years ago, it would have made a huge difference."

Pat Rich, mental health manager for Darlington Social Services, said: "The fact that this guide has been launched here emphasises just how committed we are to supporting carers."

It was the first step in recognising carers' need but "we still have a long way to go," she said.

Other services that are being developed for carers include a respite centre and training programmes. Harry Cronin, director of mental health at County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, said: "I think this document will be a great help to carers, improving access to services and helping them to understand some of the issues they have to deal with. It is a really excellent piece of work."

The Guide for Carers is being distributed to all Darlington GPs, public libraries and The Pierremont psychiatric unit, at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Darlington Carers Support Project can be contacted on (01325) 357533, from 9.30am to 4pm weekdays.