Mental health screenings must be incorporated in routine prostate cancer diagnoses say University of South Australia researchers. The call follows new research that shows men need more supports both during and immediately after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Funded by Movember, the UniSA study tracked the scale and timing of mental health issues among 13,693 South Australian men with prostate cancer, finding that 15% of prostate cancer patients began mental health medications directly after a prostate cancer diagnosis, with 6% seeking help from mental health services.
It's an important finding, not only highlighting the percentage of prostate cancer patients who seek mental health support, but notably, those who do not. Every year, more than 24,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, with up to 40% of patients considered at risk of mental distress. Lead researcher UniSA's Dr Tenaw Tiruye says the study highlights an acute need to offer mental health services and support for all men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian men. But despite high survival rates, psychological issues are one of the most frequently reported unmet needs among prostate cancer survivors. Dr.
TenawTiruye, Lead Researcher and Research Associate, University of South Australia "Prostate cancer can take a serious toll on the mental health of men throughout all stages of the illness – including diagnosis, surveillance, treatment, and follow‐up .