DFW Oncology Navigators
Stay Connected

May is Mental Health Month

Posted 7 months ago in Awareness

This announcement has 3 attachments:
Emotional_Support_Resources_for_People_with_Cancer (240 KB)
Cancer care support groups (81 KB)
nccn_distress_thermometer (190 KB)

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. 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

Cancer and Mental Health

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 . 

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

Distress is an unpleasant emotion, feeling, thought, condition, or behavior. Being distressed can affect the way you think, feel, or act, and can make it hard to cope with the effects of having cancer. 

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). 

Resources: