Mental health screenings must be incorporated into routine prostate cancer diagnoses, according to a study.
The call for mental health screenings follows new research that shows that men need more support both during and immediately after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
The study found that 15 per cent of prostate cancer patients began mental health medications directly after a prostate cancer diagnosis, with six per cent seeking help for mental health. The finding is significant as it not only highlights the percentage of prostate cancer patients who seek mental health support, but also, notably, those who do not.
Lead researcher Dr Tenaw Tiruye of University of South Australia said that the study highlights an acute need to offer mental health services and support for all men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer for men worldwide, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, headquartered in California.
But despite high survival rates, psychological issues are one of the most frequently reported unmet needs among prostate cancer survivors.
In fact, the rates of depression and anxiety among prostate cancer patients are significantly higher than those among the general population, as is the risk of suicide.