Editors' Forum | Caregivers need care, too - psychologist

Dr Tracy McFarlane, social and health psychologist, believes that caregivers of cancer patients should not ignore the impact of the role on their well-being and push to find balance.

"Coping with the psychological cost of being a caregiver centres on three things. The first is finding meaning in the role, that is, being able to answer the question, why am I doing this? The other is self-care, paying attention to your own needs," said McFarlane as she addressed a Gleaner Editors' Forum on cervical cancer last week.

The third element is social support, and McFarlane suggested that caregivers connect with persons who affirm their concerns and bolster each other emotionally.

The University of the West Indies lecturer shared that following a cancer diagnosis, a patient and the care-givers of the individual should figure out ways to suppress negative thoughts.

"It's important for us to recognise that hopelessness, helplessness, fear, stigma, shame are huge deterrents to us getting to where we need to go in terms of cancer," she said.

"This sense that my health is happening to me is something that would constrain any progress that we are going to make nationally. Health is not happening to me, a sense of personal control is very important."

brian.walker@gleanerjm.com