United States: A subset of Americans seems to be defying the national trend of rising suicide rates, those with cancer diagnoses. It can also lead to the long term affect to the brain. By the care of medical experts patients are getting help.
Counselling and Psychosocial Care Impact
Experts believe that increased availability to counselling and other forms of “psychosocial care” has lessened the psychological effects of cancer and prevented more people from making unwise choices.
However, a group headed by Dr. Qiang Liu of the National Cancer Center at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing observed that cancer patients continue to have increased risks of suicide.
Long-term Impact and Persistence
According to Liu’s group’s study, “the cancer-related suicide rate is estimated to be double that of the general population in the United States.” Interestingly, men have a much higher risk of suicide than women do. After a diagnosis, the risk of suicide connected to cancer can persist for up to 15 years.
The latest study was released in the journal Translational Psychiatry on May 27.
Study Findings and Demographics
Liu and some of the colleagues’ study examined data that includes more than 5 million Americans who received a cancer diagnosis between 1975 and 2017.
Of the over 8,000 people who took their own lives, the majority is almost 82 percent were men, 93 percent were Caucasian, and 73 percent were between the ages of 50 and 79.
Positive Trends and Declining Incidence
The good news is that over the years, there has been a good fall or can say a decrease in the suicide incidence among cancer patients.
The data indicated that between 1989 and 2013, these deaths began to diminish steadily. Between 2013 and 2017, however, they dropped considerably more dramatically, by almost 27% annually.
Liu’s team attributed these encouraging trends to a number of variables, not the least of which is that, unlike a generation or two ago, many malignancies are no longer life-threatening.
The Chinese researchers also mentioned “promising advances in medical treatments for malignancies.”
Available Support Resources
However, in addition to these developments, “this period witnessed an evolving role of psycho-oncology care, palliative care and hospice care, leading to the promotion and increased utilization of these services by patients with cancer, enhancing their overall quality of life,” the researchers stated.
“Furthermore, the development of integrated care models, including collaborative care models, has provided a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to cancer care,” they stated.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available to assist you or a loved one who is experiencing suicide thoughts and feelings.