Cancer diagnosis: Psychological help urgently required!

Cancer diagnosis: Psychological help urgently required!

On January 15, 2025, the Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP) is urgently calling for free psycho-oncological support for patients after cancer as part of the Austrian Cancer Report 2024. Every year over 44,000 people in Austria develop cancer, and around 440,000 live with a cancer diagnosis. Many of those affected struggle with existential fears, such as fear of a relapse or the progression of the disease. This often results in psychological stress such as anxiety and depression, which significantly affects the quality of life. The BÖP emphasizes that the diagnosis of cancer represents a massive psychosocial crisis and calls for state-funded, free clinical psychological care to help those affected. Currently, many patients have to pay two thirds of their therapy costs out of their own pocket, which is unaffordable for many. This was also highlighted by the BÖP President, Dr. Beate Wimmer-Puchinger, who insists on the need for a “benefits in kind agreement” to ensure the psychosocial support that is now urgently needed, such as OTS.at reported.

Mental illness in Europe

The problem of mental illness is widespread in Europe. Loud doctors of the world Over 160 million people, which corresponds to around 38 percent of the European population, are affected by mental illness. Anxiety disorders and depression are particularly common. At the same time, many sufferers do not seek help, often due to ignorance of available support or fear of stigmatization. This means that many people suffer from the consequences of mental illness without appropriate treatment structures in place. An overarching problem is the underdiagnosis of illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder or addictions. The lack of timely and adequate treatment highlights the urgency of the issue, which needs to be addressed more strongly by health authorities.