Mental health

Receiving a cancer diagnosis and undergoing any treatment is a shit situation, and may do your head in. You may experience differing levels of stress, depression, and anxiety during the immediate phase of diagnosis and treatment, but also possibly years after you finish active treatment. This is a common experience. It is a trauma, and cancer-related post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) is a reality for many people.

Making your mental health a priority is really important. There are many ways of looking after yourself, including exercise, meditation, indulging in good food, pampering yourself (yes men, you too), and continuing the activities and hobbies you love.

It is also highly recommended that you seek the services of a trusted psychologist or counsellor, as they can give you coping techniques. If you don’t have one already, ask your medical team if they refer you to one – many clinics have oncology-psychologists.

If you are seeing a psychologist privately, check if you can receive a rebate from your private health insurance cover (benefits depend on your provider and level of insurance).

Another way to reduce the financial burden, is by utilising Medicare’s Mental Health Treatment Plan. You may be able to get sessions bulk billed, or at least a reduced gap payment. Discuss the referral process with your GP and preferred provider.

Links

Crisis and telephone helplines

Mental health services

Meditation

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Disclaimer: Ninox Cancer Support Crew does not endorse and is not affiliated with any of the organisations, businesses, or services listed on this page. We include them, in good faith, for information purposes only. You should discuss your individual circumstances with your trusted advisors, health and otherwise, prior to making any decisions.

Have we made an error, missed an important resource, or do you need something specific? Get in touch.

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