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May is Mental Health Month

Posted 14 days ago in Awareness

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Cancer care support groups (81 KB)
nccn_distress_thermometer (210 KB)
Emotional Support Resources for Adults with Cancer_DFWON (250 KB)

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month, NAMI actively participates in this national movement, dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness. - National Alliance on Mental Health

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices – SAMHSA.  Mental health is crucial for overall well-being and is often overlooked, even though it's equally important as physical health. Both mental and physical health are closely linked, and neglecting one can negatively impact the other - CDC.

Cancer and Mental Health

Cancer affects more than a person's body. A cancer diagnosis can have a huge impact on the mental health of patients and their loved ones. Feelings of depression, anxiety, fear and distress are very common and are normal responses to these life-changing experiences. Many factors can contribute to these feelings. Changes in body image can affect self-esteem and confidence. Family and work roles may be altered. Physical symptoms, such as pain, nausea or extreme fatigue, also seem more likely to cause emotional distress. People might also fear death, suffering, pain or all of the unknown things that lie ahead.

Many people may have existing mental health illness, trauma or stressors such as being a single parent, the primary breadwinner or a caregiver to a loved one. The stress of hearing the diagnosis can be emotional for anyone, but for people with mental illnesses or tendencies towards emotional problems, they can escalate into a high distress situation . 

Young adults are at greater risk for depression and other conditions compared to adults with cancer. Cancer, depression and anxiety have shared symptoms like fatigue, lack of sleep, and decreased appetite which can make recognizing mental health conditions difficult. It has been found that people with depression might have worse cancer-related outcomes. They might be less likely to follow treatment plans or take prevention screens. -Mental Health America 

Depression

Approximately one-third of people treated for cancer in hospitals have a common mental health condition. Rates of major depressive disorder are thought to be up to three times higher than in the general population. Anywhere from 8-24% of people with cancer are also living with a depression. Youth and young adults are at greater risk for depression and other conditions compared to adults with cancer. - Mental Health America (MHA)

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common emotion. Most people feel anxious from time to time. Feeling anxious may be described as feeling nervous, on edge, or worried. Many people with cancer have symptoms of anxiety. A cancer diagnosis can trigger these feelings: fear, uncertainty, worry and concern. - Cancer.net

Grief 

Patients can suffer grief from a loss of or change in a body part, loss of normalcy and anticipating an event that will cause loss (anticipatory grief). These types of grief can be just as emotional as the grief experienced when a loved one dies.

PTSD

People with cancer can also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder. A person may develop PTSD after experiencing a frightening or life-threatening situation.

Distress

Psychosocial distress (PSD) in cancer, has been defined as “a multifactorial unpleasant experience of a psychological (i.e., cognitive, behavioral, emotional), social, spiritual, and/or physical nature that may interfere with one's ability to cope effectively with cancer, its physical symptoms, and its treatment. Distress was a name chosen because it is less stigmatizing than the words "mental" or "psychological". PSD is a  common experience, affecting many patients at various stages of the cancer journey. - National Cancer Institute 

Assessing Distress in Patients

It's important to recognize these feelings of depression, anxiety, grief and distress in our patients and their caregivers. Distress can be assessed by using the NCCN distress thermometer (see attached). This is a tool to help people with cancer rate their level of distress and report their concerns causing this distress. A score of 4 or above indicates the need for intervention. Interventions include referrals to professionals and support activities (see attached documents). 

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