£55k boost to continue cancer mental health service

A mental health and wellbeing support service for cancer patients on the Isle of Man has received a £55,000 grant.

It means the psycho-oncology service, run by the Mind Matters charity at the new Mannin Cancers Centre, can keep going until at least the end of the year.

The service, which has been running for about 20 years, provides assessment and access to a therapist for island-based cancer patients.

Its chief executive Andrea Chambers said: "It's incredibly important to look after our mental health as much as our physical health, especially when going through illness."

She added: "About 25% of the people who get a cancer diagnosis will feel some sort of depression or anxiety around that.

"Having cancer makes people think about their own mortality.

"It's also difficult to face the end of your life, if that is what the outcome is for a patient."

The service provides support to patients, or their family, at any point in their diagnosis or treatment, and is overseen by a consultant clinical psychologist.

The funds, provided by the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association, will pay the salaries of staff and enable the service to continue for the rest of the year.

"There can be funding difficulties - there always are for charities - but we're very proud of this service, so it is lovely to know that it can continue," said Chambers

"This donation has been pivotal for us, at a time where funding specialist support is always a challenge for charities."

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