Mental health needs in cancer - a call for change

Asanga Fernando; Marisa Tokell; Yostina Ishak; Jenna Love; Matthias Klammer; Mickey Koh

doi:10.7861/fhj.2023-0059

Mental health needs in cancer - a call for change

Future Healthc J. 2023 Jul;10(2):112-116. doi: 10.7861/fhj.2023-0059.

Authors

Asanga Fernando¹, Marisa Tokell², Yostina Ishak³, Jenna Love⁴, Matthias Klammer⁵, Mickey Koh⁶

Affiliations

¹ St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and honorary senior lecturer, St George's, University of London, London, UK.
² Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
³ St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and clinical pharmacology tutor, St George's, University of London, London, UK.
⁴ St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
⁵ St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK and honorary senior lecturer, St George's, University of London, London, UK.
⁶ St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and St George's, University of London, London, UK.

Abstract

There is continued under-recognition and underinvestment in the psychological and mental health aspects of care for cancer patients, despite the fact that increased patient survival rates in cancer mean that patients are living longer after diagnosis. In this article, we advocate for better integration and joint working between clinicians across all areas, including education and research, impacting positively on the outcomes and care of cancer patients.

Keywords: cancer; commissioning; haematology; integrated services; medical education; mental health; oncology; psychiatry; psychology; simulation.