A diagnosis of cancer can have a significant impact on mental, physical, social and emotional health for the person with cancer and for their loved ones. Distress related to a cancer diagnosis can take the form of common mental health conditions (ie anxiety and depression) however for some people, there may be additional social and psychological adversity.
Psycho social support for people affected by cancer in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw – Patient focused support
Dr Matthew Williams, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Psycho social support can include a range of different intensity interventions, from relatively high intensity to one-to-one or group psychological therapies, to more low-level interventions such as counselling, psycho-education, spiritual, peer and/or other support.
In April 2022, the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance set out to identify potential gaps and inequity in provision for the psycho-social support of people affected by cancer across Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield to enable the development of improvement plans. This work evolved through partnership working with a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders and with people affected by cancer.