Episode 30: Mental Health Awareness Month Playlist

[00:00:00] Kristen Wynn: We are a resource for learners, including every member of the Live Strong Cancer Institute’s, on track educational pipeline from middle school to residency. We are a growing collection of interviews, talks and experiences that uncover the myths and the uncertainties of cancer and careers and cancer in order to empower and inspire generations of thinkers and leaders.

This is cancer uncovered. An education and empowerment podcast by the Live Strong Cancer Institutes. Welcome to Cancer Uncovered. This is Kristen Wynn, program manager at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School Live Strong Cancer Institutes Hook EM horns. We are wrapping up Mental Health Awareness month.

I can’t help but think shouldn’t every month be mental health awareness month. If you’re thinking to yourself, sure, everyone talks about this all the time, Kristen, but what exactly is mental health? According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing.

It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood and behavior could be affected To keep you thinking about the importance of mental health, I wanted to point you in the direction of several episodes to go back and listen to on this topic.

At first, I thought there’s likely one or two episodes you could go back and listen to, but honestly, looking back, I would argue that every episode of Cancer uncovered has an element of a mental health discussion, and that makes sense when talking about cancer. The National Behavior Health Network in the US says the following.

One in three people with cancer experience, mental health or emotional distress. Up to 25% of cancer survivors experience symptoms of depression and up to 45% experience anxiety. Many cancer survivors also experience symptoms meeting the criteria for post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or P T S D. According to Mental Health America and the US Department of Health and Human Services, most Americans lack access to adequate mental health treatment.

54.7% of American adults with mental illness did not receive care in the last year. Mental illness can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. And per a recent Forbes article, youth depression rates have risen from 12.9% to 25.2% from pre pandemic to 2021. That’s a lot to chew on. If you want to hear how mental healthcare plays into cancer, clinical care, cancer research, and multiple survivors experiences, take a listen to the following episode playlist.

This is an order from the most recent episode featuring info on mental health to the oldest episode that includes themes around mental health. Here we go, episode 28. Most recent on mental healthcare and the Flatwater Foundation is a fantastic one. Episode 16, the Young Adult Advisory Board at the Live Strong Cancer Institutes, episode nine, chemo Brain Facts and Fiction.

Episode three, a Research Pep Talk, episode two, race and Medical Education, and episode one, the clinical team at the Live Strong Cancer Institute. We’ll also make sure a list of these episodes are in the show notes. If you or someone you know needs help. Here are just a few ideas you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or S A M H S A.

They have a national help line. It’s 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-662-FOUR 3 5 7. Also in the United States, there is the crisis lifeline. You can call or text nine eighty eight. You can also get in touch with school counselors, work employee assistant programs. The one at UT Austin is topnotch. Your family doctor or general practitioner for next steps.

Bottom line, no matter where you are, if you are struggling with your mental health, do not keep it to yourself. Ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength to ask for help. I’m gonna share with you a quote from Tyler Merrit, who is an actor and a writer. You should check him out, and it’s just a reminder to take care of yourself, get the help you need, because here’s what Tyler says.

We have been waiting for you. Not someone like you, but specifically you. The world needs that singular thing that only you can bring. I need it. Your family needs it. The world needs it. Thank you for showing up today. You are exactly what we needed. This is Kristen Wynn for Cancer Uncovered. Thank you for listening and learning with us.

Thank you for showing up today. We’ll see you next time.

If you have questions for us or an idea about a future episode, please email us at Live Strong Cancer Institutes delm me dot u texas.edu. To find out more about the Live Strong Cancer Institutes, please visit delm me dot u Texas. Edu. Please also follow our department chair, Dr. Gail Eckhart on Twitter at s Gale Eckhart.

Eckhart is spelled e c k h a r d t. This is Kristin Wynn with the Live Strong Cancer Institutes and Cancer uncovered an education and empowerment podcast, challenging you to keep asking questions and stay curious. Thank you for listening and learning with us. We’ll see you next month.