Psychosocial Services
For patients and their loved ones, the battle against cancer is fraught with
emotion. Feelings of defeat, anger, sadness, guilt and anxiety are natural.
Attitude is an important aspect of the energy needed to fight and persevere
against this disease. To respond to this, the McGill University Health Centre
has created a program to address the psychosocial needs of patients and
their families.
Established in January 2008 under the direction of Dr. Marc Hamel, the
Psychosocial Oncology Program benefits from the experience and expertise
of a team of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and nurses who
specialize in
helping cancer
patients. Each
member of the
interdisciplinary
team is ready to
listen and empathize, to help patients mobilize their resources, and provide
them with the tools and strategies they need to rise to the challenges that
come with cancer.
Among the services provided to ambulatory cancer patients and their families are screening for distress, psychological and psychiatric consultations, brief individual, couple and family therapy, and grief counselling. Thanks to a standard triage process, individuals requesting psychosocial services are contacted by telephone within 48 hours.
Other activities of the Psychosocial Oncology Program include continuing education workshops for professionals, presentations at national and international conferences, and clinical training of doctoral students. The Psychosocial Oncology program of the MUHC participates actively with Cedars CanSupport on an ongoing basis.
- MUHC Director General and CEO Arthur T. Porter.