World Cancer Day: Strengthening Mental Health Support Across the Cancer Journey
On World Cancer Day, we join the global community in recognising that cancer care must go beyond physical treatment. Emotional and psychological well-being are equally vital components of recovery and quality of life.
At GAMIAN-Europe, we continue to advocate for integrated mental health support for people living with cancer and their families, ensuring that no one faces the emotional burden of cancer alone.
Over the past years, our work has focused on addressing the often-overlooked link between cancer and mental health. We have also developed practical tools and digital solutions to support patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals across Europe. These efforts continue today through several initiatives, including our ongoing collaboration within the ALTHEA project, funded under the EU4Health programme, where GAMIAN-Europe is proud to be one of the partners.
Building on Experience: From Research to Real Solutions
Understanding the Link Between Cancer and Depression (2022–2023)
A key step in our work was raising awareness through our report on cancer and depression. The project highlighted the scale and impact of mental health challenges among people living with cancer.
Depression affects an estimated 10–20% of cancer patients, with some studies suggesting rates as high as 58%. When left untreated, depression is linked to poorer treatment outcomes, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality risk. Suicide rates are also significantly higher among certain oncology populations.
The project aimed to:
- Raise awareness of depression as a common cancer comorbidity.
- Improve understanding of symptom recognition in oncology settings.
- Collect patient and caregiver experiences;
- Identify barriers to diagnosis and treatment;
- Foster dialogue between patients, clinicians and policymakers.
The findings underlined the urgent need for early detection and integrated care, forming the basis for subsequent initiatives.
Empowering Patients: Cancer and Depression Toolkit (2023–2024)
Building on this work, GAMIAN-Europe developed the Cancer and Depression Toolkit, designed to support patients dealing with both conditions simultaneously.
Created using research evidence and lived experiences, the toolkit helps individuals and families navigate emotional challenges during treatment and recovery. It offers:
- Coping strategies tailored to cancer treatment.
- Guidance on accessing specialised mental health services.
- Information on financial and social support options.
- Advice on recognising depression symptoms in the context of cancer care.
The toolkit aims to empower patients with knowledge, resilience, and community support, helping them manage both physical and emotional challenges.
Connecting People to Support: Mental Health & Cancer Hub (2024–2025)
Our most recent initiative, the Mental Health & Cancer Hub, represents a significant advancement in addressing a long-standing challenge: helping people actually find the mental health support available to them.
Despite growing awareness of psycho-oncological needs, many patients and families across Europe still struggle to access appropriate support services, often due to fragmented information and unequal availability.
To address this, GAMIAN-Europe, in collaboration with Cancer Patients Europe and European Cancer Leagues, launched a dedicated digital platform connecting people with mental health support services relevant to cancer care.
The Hub offers:
- Country-specific directories covering over 20 European countries, connecting users with psycho-oncological services, psychological support providers, peer support groups and helplines.
- Practical coping tools and self-help resources.
- Guidance for carers supporting loved ones through cancer.
- Resources for healthcare professionals to better recognise and respond to mental health needs.
Importantly, the Hub is designed as a living resource, continuously updated and expanded as new services and countries are added. Developed with patient advocates and mental health professionals, it reflects real-life needs across diverse healthcare systems.
By making mental health support easier to find, the Hub helps ensure emotional wellbeing is recognised as part of the overall cancer journey — from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.
Continuing the Journey: The ALTHEA Project (2024–2027)
These experiences continue through our work within ALTHEA – Tackling Mental Health in Cancer Patients and Their Families through Digital Solutions for Better Care, a large European collaboration now well into its implementation phase.
ALTHEA is developing a web-based platform enabling systematic mental health screening for cancer patients and caregivers, helping healthcare professionals identify individuals at risk and provide personalised psychological support throughout treatment and recovery. The project connects 26 partners across 16 countries and is funded under the EU4Health programme for 2024–2027.
GAMIAN-Europe contributes through stakeholder engagement and coordination activities, representation of patient and caregiver perspectives in platform design, ethical and regulatory oversight, as well as dissemination, communication and policy outreach. This ensures that solutions evolve in line with real patient needs while strengthening awareness of mental health as a core component of cancer care across Europe.
Most recently, ALTHEA further strengthened its work by establishing a Mental Health & Cancer Advisory Board, connecting international experts in psycho-oncology, public health, survivorship care, and patient advocacy. The Board supports ALTHEA and sister EU4Health projects by reviewing progress, ensuring stakeholder perspectives inform decisions, and providing independent insights to improve patient and carer experience.
This milestone reinforces ALTHEA’s commitment to combining technological innovation with expert and patient input to advance more accessible, holistic mental health support within cancer care across Europe.
Mental Health Must Be Part of Cancer Care
World Cancer Day reminds us that cancer affects the whole person, not only the body. Emotional distress, anxiety and depression are common experiences for patients and families, yet mental health support is still too often overlooked.
Through research, patient empowerment tools, digital platforms and European collaborations, GAMIAN-Europe continues to work towards holistic, person-centred cancer care across Europe.
Because mental well-being is not optional in cancer care, it is essential.
For more information on GAMIAN-Europe’s ongoing projects and initiatives, please follow its social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube.
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