This study examines whether informal caregiving has a negative effect on the mental health of the caregiver, taking into account additional burdens such as that of holding down a job. The analyses are based on the German Socio–Economic Panel (GSOEP). We estimate fixed–effects regressions of a measure of caregivers’ mental health (SF–12) on hours of informal caregiving, taking into account the relationships between the caregiver and the person being cared for. (...)