Navigating Mental Well-Being in Palliative Care

“The Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 4th edition” are organized into 8 domains, with the focus of the third domain laying on the importance of addressing the psychological and psychiatric needs of those in care.

At Mosaic Healthcare, our aim is to address not only the visible symptoms of chronic disease, but also the inevitable emotional toll that having such conditions can have on you.

The Unspoken Reality:

Having had a great aunt who suffered from chronic illnesses, I often saw how her caregivers would place emphasis on her physical ailments, the visible bits. What I scarcely saw was how little attention was paid to how she felt in the moment.

Going through a chronic disease like breast cancer and seeing her body slowly wither away was detrimental to her mental well-being. As she said, there were days where the mental strain of it all overshadowed any discomfort and pain the cancer was causing to her body.

Perhaps the simple act of making her feel heard and fostering a hopeful, emotionally strengthening environment around her would have aided her immensely in her struggle with chronic pain.

The Power of Hope, according to Research

Hope is a powerful weapon. Extensive research has been carried out to show how the supposedly simple act of having hope can reduce the perception of pain for many chronically ill people.

For example, a study carried out in July 2020 aimed to portray the link between hope and the quality of life among adolescents suffering from chronic illness (Read more here) and was successful in establishing a positive correlation between the two.

Similarly, another study was carried out more recently on people suffering from CLBP. Chronic Lower Back Pain (CLBP) is a fairly common and significant form of physical ailment that affects people across the globe. The results of said study (Read more here) were able to show how tolerance, along with the ability to remain hopeful, was a significant factor in increasing the physical well-being of those suffering from CLBP.

What We Can Do Going Forward:

Now that we’ve established the importance of psychological well-being, as well as its implications for those suffering from chronic disease, here is the final step in navigating the complexities of this matter, taking the right actions.

Whether it’s within a palliative care facility or at home, listed below are some mindful options for showing support and catering to the mental needs of those in your care:

● Introduce them to a community that has a similar condition: You may find it helpful to acquaint the patient with a group of people who are bonded by the same shared experience. Whether it’s online (i.e. Facebook groups) or in real life, a sense of belonging and purpose fostered through such communities can go a long way.

● Finding the right course of therapy: CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy), and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) are all various types of evidence-based therapeutic techniques. Remember, no two humans are alike, so it may take some time before you are able to find the right course of therapy for your patient, which may differ from that of another patient. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help one cope, adapt, and thrive—all key factors needed in their lifelong struggles with chronic disease.

● Actively engage in what makes them happy: Whether it’s cooking them their favourite meal or reading their favourite book, purposefully participating in and supporting whatever brings them joy can do wonders for their mental health in the long run.