By Danahé Catalán Reyes 

Youth Advisory Group-GOYN-CDMX

In the context of International Women's Day and the month of March, I consider it vitally important to focus attention and analysis on one of the historical inequalities that women have experienced: the burden of caregiving. It has been shown that women dedicate the greatest number of hours to caregiving, without this effort being valued socially or economically, which has had negative repercussions on their life plans, from personal to professional. Furthermore, the strain this responsibility places on their physical and psychological health is alarming, as there is a higher prevalence of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, which can lead to the so-called "caregiver collapse." Likewise, chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, overweight, and obesity are also observed, often as a result of a sedentary lifestyle.

Factors Influencing Care Burden

There are several factors that influence the intensity of the caregiving burden. This can be physical, associated with the degree of motor dependency of the person being cared for, or emotional, linked to the responsibility for that person's well-being. Furthermore, as a consequence of this burden, caregivers (CPs) may neglect their own health needs, leading to a deterioration in their well-being. It is crucial to effectively identify risk factors for physical and mental health in order to prevent them and reduce the impact this burden may have on the quality of life of those they care for and their dependents.

Caregiving Stress: Burnout Syndrome

Symptoms of caregiver burnout include feelings of guilt, constant exhaustion, excessive worry, denial, isolation, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, thoughts of losing control over life, sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or too little), weight changes, irritability, sadness, frequent headaches or other health problems, and substance abuse such as alcohol or prescription drugs.

It's important to note that the dual burden of caregiving and being a woman also results in lower adherence to medical treatments and limits prioritizing their own health. Lack of time for themselves and poor mental health also lead to greater life dissatisfaction, affecting various areas.

Recommendations to Avoid Burnout Syndrome in Caregivers

It is essential to pay attention to warning signs and have support networks that help us overcome isolation, as well as to work on self-care. Talking to friends, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and practicing relaxation techniques are key tools. Social and emotional support is essential; these should be based on caring, solidarity, love, commitment, and empathy. Empathy is a skill that can be developed and enhanced, becoming a key to the success of caregivers. Developing empathy improves satisfaction, trust, and communication, helping people provide healthy and balanced care, benefiting both the caregiver and the dependent person.

Other recommendations include:

– Have laws that protect caregivers, guaranteeing their access to health services, social security, pensions, and other rights.

– Access to psychological and emotional care services for caregivers.

– Specific training in self-care, time management, and strategies for balancing self-care and the care of others.

– Evaluate your level of self-care and learn to take care of your body and mind.

– Detect and address psychological barriers, such as feelings of guilt or excessive self-demand, that hinder self-care.

– Learn to plan, ask for help effectively, diversify activities, and recognize your own limitations.

– Know the health consequences of taking on this task for the caregiver.

– Implement respite services that allow caregivers to have personal time and avoid physical and mental exhaustion.

– Design intersectional approaches in health and social planning, creating gender-sensitive services that specifically support female caregivers.

– Promote local or digital networks to connect caregivers, facilitating the exchange of experiences and creating a sense of community, as well as serving as a channel for accessing available resources and services.

– Take advantage of the experience of caring as an opportunity for personal growth.

Positive Effects of the Caregiver Role

Despite the challenges, some positive effects of the caregiver role have also been identified, such as satisfaction and mastery. Satisfaction refers to feelings of pleasure and enjoyment in helping and feeling connected to the person being cared for, while mastery refers to the caregiver's confidence in their ability to provide quality care. This role has even been associated with increased longevity.

Conclusion

Society must stop traditionally assigning the role of caregiver to women and recognize the need to balance family responsibilities. Promoting gender equity means distributing caregiving tasks more fairly between men and women. This will not only ease the burden on women's mental health but will also facilitate their inclusion and stability in the workplace, contributing to reducing gender inequality.

Self-care should be considered a necessity, not a luxury, essential for both short- and long-term well-being. Empowering women also involves educating them on the importance of prioritizing their mental health, even when there are caregiving responsibilities. Understanding the importance of making time for themselves and developing personal projects or interests is vital for both women and society as a whole.

The mental health of caregivers is crucial to ensuring they can provide quality care without excessive personal costs. Investing in the well-being of caregivers is not only a matter of social justice, but also a way to ensure that care is comprehensive, humane, and sustainable.