Dhaka University Seminar Calls for an 'Ecological Model' of Mental-Health Support for Cancer Patients and Caregivers
A seminar was held at 4pm on Friday at Dhaka University's R. C. Majumdar Auditorium to highlight the importance of mental-health services for people affected by cancer, cancer survivors and their caregivers. The Center for Cancer Care Foundation (CCCF) organised the seminar.
The seminar, titled 'Psychological Support for Cancer Patients, Survivors and Caregivers', began with a minute's silence in memory of cancer fighters who have died.
CCCF president Rokshana Afroze chaired the seminar and presented the keynote paper. Guests included Bangladesh Cancer Society president Professor Golam Mohiuddin Faruk, Dhaka University Women and Gender Studies department chair Dr Sanjida Akhtar, palliative care specialist Dr Nadia Farhin of Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital, and Dhaka University clinical psychology lecturer Liza Akter.
Discussants included CCCF executive committee member Dr A. J. Faisal, mental health and wellness coach and public health professional Dr Ituki Chakma, and Shami Surid, senior counsellor and coordinator of BRAC University's Counselling and Wellness Centre. CCCF executive members Md. Tarikul Islam Liton and Hridiya Afroze Raka hosted the event, and lifetime member Dr S. M. Shahidullah gave the vote of thanks.
In her keynote, Rokshana Afroze stressed the need not to confine cancer treatment to physical care alone, but to give equal importance to patients' mental and psychosocial needs.
She said that after a cancer diagnosis, patients and their family members may go through fear, anxiety, uncertainty, financial pressure and worry about the future. Being sensitive to their mental state at every stage of treatment, arranging counselling as needed and ensuring support for caregivers are essential, she said.
She emphasised coordinating mental-health services with cancer care, and the need for combined efforts by government and private institutions, hospitals, professionals and voluntary organisations in this field.
Senior physician Dr Abu Jamil Faisal, a CCCF executive committee member, stressed the need to increase coordination between treatment and mental-health support in cancer care. He said patients' treatment plans should also take mental stress, anxiety and family circumstances into account.
Dr Ituki Chakma stressed maintaining mental wellbeing, coping with stress and creating a supportive environment. She said changes in the mental state of patients and caregivers must be taken seriously, they must be given the chance to express their experiences, and they must be connected to professional help when needed.
Drawing on her experience during her daughter's treatment in Australia, she highlighted the importance of family support, sharing experiences with other parents, music therapy and opportunities for caregivers to rest. Making the treatment process easier, understanding the needs of patients and caregivers and valuing their experiences can make mental-health support more effective, she added.
The seminar emphasised making mental-health services more accessible for people affected by cancer, survivors and their caregivers, coordinating psychosocial support with the treatment system, and raising awareness in families and society. CCCF believes that alongside treatment, mental strength, empathy and social support are vital in the fight against cancer.
The Center for Cancer Care Foundation (CCCF) is a voluntary, non-profit social organisation registered under the Department of Social Services. It runs mental-health support, information, awareness and other support activities for people affected by cancer, survivors and their families.
