Cancer Psychological Services
We are a specialist service offering support for individuals living with a cancer who may be experiencing a range of feelings and emotions related to their diagnosis and treatment. Individuals may find it difficult to not only cope with the physical symptoms of cancer, but also the drastic changes to their life including those impacting their family, employment, social activity and appearance. These challenges, amongst others, could cause significant and overwhelming distress as the may struggle with feelings such as low mood, anger and fear.
This service offers an opportunity to talk with a professional trained in emotional wellbeing who can offer support to cope with such difficulty and distress. We provide a space for people to talk about their issues and emotional struggles as well as learn and adapt ways to manage their psychological difficulties and move forward. Furthermore, the service provides a range of psychological treatments to meet individual needs.
The psychology service also works closely with medical teams, offers training and consultancy to colleagues and contributes to the teaching and supervision of psychologists in training.
Support services for people with cancer
Samaritans
Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress and despair.
www.samaritans.org
Tel: 116123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Macmillan Cancer Support
www.macmillan.org.uk
Need to talk?
Call us free
0808 808 00 00
Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm
Click here to access further information from Macmillan on managing your emotions
About the psychological service
This service is available to all adults with cancer who are under the care of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
The service could help you with feeling anxious or angry as well as worries or fears about the future.
Please click here to access futher information which will open in a new page.
Places to contact in crisis
If you are experiencing significant immediate distress that means there is a risk to your safety e.g. you might be having thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life then there are several places you can contact.
GP
You can contact your GP if you are concerned about your mental health, and feel at risk of harming yourself in some way.
Local Single Point of Access (SPA)
This is a community service that receives self-referrals and referrals from professionals. It offers an assessment of a person’s mental health needs, sign-posting them to the appropriate service. If you feel as though you are experiencing a crisis in mental health or frequent and severe suicidal thoughts this is a useful number to ring.
Kirklees and Calderdale: 01924 316830
999 + Local Accident & Emergency departments:
If you feel distressed and have plans to end your life or have taken any action to do so, your local A&E is often the most appropriate place to contact.
Family and carer support services
Carers UK: Provide advice and information for carers.
www.carersuk.org
Carers UK advice line: 0808 808 7777 (open Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm)
A charity organisation that provides information, advice, education, training and employment opportunities for carers.
Telephone no: 0844 800 4361
Cruse Bereavement Care
0808 808 1677
Patient information
What will happen at my first appointment?
The purpose of your first appointment is to get an understanding of the difficulties that led you to seek help and how these difficulties are affecting your life. We will also talk about what your priorities and goals are. The appointment will usually last for 1 hour. You are welcome to bring anyone else into the consultation if you want to include them in the discussion.
What happens next?
Sometimes, the first consultation can be helpful and sufficient to meet your needs. We will discuss with you whether we feel you would benefit from further sessions and you will be offered further sessions if this seems appropriate. Sometimes there will be other services that can better meet your needs and we will be able to direct or refer you to these services if appropriate.
What happens with the information I share with you?
We will always do our best to ensure that the information you share remains confidential. The notes we write are kept separately to your medical notes. We will write a brief summary of our understanding of your difficulties for the health professionals involved in your care and this would usually be written in a letter. We will discuss this with you in your first appointment. If we think that there is a risk of harm to you or others we would need to pass this information to somebody. We would always try to talk with you first.
Where will I be seen?
All appointments will be at the Greenlea Unit, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. Your first appointment letter will tell you exactly where your first meeting will be held.
What should I do if I would like this help?
If you feel that you would benefit from this service, please talk to a member of your cancer team for example your consultant or clinical nurse specialist who can give you more information and make a referral if appropriate.
