Watch our webinar about mental health & psychosocial care.

For young cancer survivors, the journey doesn’t end with treatment. Emotional and psychological challenges often linger, requiring ongoing attention and care. A recent EU-CAYAS-NET webinar explored the complex mental health needs of survivors, emphasizing the importance of addressing emotional recovery as part of holistic survivorship care.

Understanding Mental Health in Survivorship

Mental health for young cancer survivors exists on a spectrum, ranging from healthy coping mechanisms to persistent stress and clinical disorders. Survivors often experience a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, fear, and guilt—shaped by their personal experiences and social environments.

The webinar highlighted the need to move beyond simplistic labels like “resilient” or “fragile.” Mental health is a dynamic, evolving process, and survivors’ needs require nuanced, individualized approaches.

The Duality of Hope and Fear

Hope and fear coexist in the lives of cancer survivors. Hope brings optimism for the future, while fear of recurrence or life’s uncertainties post-treatment can feel overwhelming.

During the webinar, survivors shared how these emotions are often intertwined. Optimism may bring guilt, and societal pressures to appear “strong” or “positive” can feel burdensome. Embracing the coexistence of hope and fear allows survivors to process their emotions more authentically.

Barriers to Mental Health Care

Despite growing awareness, barriers to mental health care for survivors remain significant. Survivors face:

  • Limited Access: Psycho-oncologists are scarce, and waiting lists are long.
  • Funding Gaps: Services are often underfunded and unavailable.
  • Cultural Stigma: Many avoid seeking help due to fears of judgment.
  • Toxic Positivity: Social expectations to “stay positive” often invalidate survivors’ struggles, creating feelings of isolation.

Breaking Down Barriers

Normalizing Emotional Complexity

Survivors should feel empowered to express their emotions—both positive and negative—without fear of judgment.

Increasing Access to Resources

Advocacy efforts must focus on improving access to mental health services, training healthcare providers in sensitivity, and addressing funding shortages.

Building Peer Support Networks

Survivor-led groups foster belonging and validation, creating safe spaces for shared experiences and emotional resilience.

Navigating Hope and Fear

Acknowledging the coexistence of hope and fear is key to emotional recovery. Caregivers and healthcare providers can help by creating safe spaces for open dialogue, avoiding toxic positivity, and practicing empathetic communication.

Toward a Better Future

Integrating Psychosocial Support

Holistic care must include regular mental health assessments, therapy, and long-term follow-up tailored to survivors’ needs.

Empowering Survivors

Workshops, survivor-led initiatives, and educational programs can equip survivors with tools to advocate for their emotional recovery.

Policy Advocacy

Policymakers must close funding gaps and prioritize mental health in survivorship care to ensure equitable access for all.

A Call to Action

Emotional recovery is just as vital as physical recovery. Collective efforts are needed to address survivors’ mental health challenges and improve quality of life.

For Survivors

  • Embrace the coexistence of hope and fear.
  • Seek support through professional services and peer networks.
  • Advocate for your mental health and practice self-compassion.

For Healthcare Providers

  • Normalize mental health as a standard part of survivorship care.
  • Listen actively and provide tailored support.

For Society

  • Challenge stigma around mental health and cancer survivorship.
  • Support open conversations about survivors’ emotional complexities.

Mental health is an integral part of the survivorship journey and should never be overlooked. By normalizing emotional complexity, reducing stigma, and improving access to care, we can ensure that every young survivor receives the support they need to thrive.

To hear directly from survivors and experts, watch the full webinar here.