How To Support Your Patients’ Mental Health After a Blood Cancer Diagnosis

When your patient is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), it’s important to remember that in addition to their physical health, their mental health is a critical part of their overall well-being.¹ From initial diagnosis through remission, it’s essential to ensure patients are equipped with tools and resources to help them manage the various emotions that come with a diagnosis and know how to seek professional help when needed.

Many patients feel a certain stigma around mental health, so it’s important to initiate the conversation. Helping patients figure out how to create an action plan and manage coping strategies can also help reduce the stigma around asking for professional help around their mental health.²

Recognizing how blood cancer can affect your patients’ mental health can help prepare you to proactively discuss the topic with them and answer their questions. The need for mental health support applies to your patients’ caregivers as well, who often will feel new pressures and responsibilities when their loved one is diagnosed.³

This video provides suggestions and recommendations you can provide to your patients and their caregivers to help them proactively manage their emotional well-being.

You can direct your patients and caregivers to tools and resources for managing their mental health when living with blood cancer at UnderstandBloodCancer.com/mental-health-and-wellbeing. 

Thank you to the following video participants:

• Oreofe Odejide, MD, MPH: https://www.dana-farber.org/find-a-doctor/oreofe-o-odejide/
• Teresa Deshields, PhD, ABPP: https://www.rushu.rush.edu/faculty/teresa-l-deshields-phd-abpp 

References:

1. Leukaemia Foundation. Mental Health. https://www.leukaemia.org.au/blood-cancer-information/the-blood-cancer-journey/living-well-with-blood-cancer/emotional-health/mental-health/. Accessed August 2023.
2. Leukemia Care. Coping with a blood cancer. https://www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/support-and-information/information-about-blood-cancer/living-well-with-leukaemia/emotional-support/coping-with-a-blood-cancer/. Accessed August 2023.
3. Cancer.Net. Living with cancer while receiving long-term treatment. https://www.cancer.net/survivorship/living-with-cancer-while-receiving-long-term-treatment. Accessed August 2023.