After much research done I’ve come to understand different aspects of the pain of being a patient who’s scared and uncertain about their future. Not just that about also a patient dealing with change, a withdrawal of a life they knew and the hard process of trying to accept their new reality.
Through being in a Facebook group for cancer patients and their caregivers I have been able to read their stories, sufferings, thoughts, what helps them and what doesn’t. I have seen a mix of hopefulness and hopelessness.
Some observations:
Most people seem to prefer tv shows more than watching movies for distraction. This is due to the length of what they’re watching and the effects of “the chemo brain”. Episodes are shorter and it helps with the shorter attention Spans and memory due to treatments.
Most people seem to find journaling and sharing their own story very helpful. They seem to seek comfort in others thoughts, empathy and prayers. In one of the Facebook groups I am in there are 41.2K members, in another 2k. This is a sign that patients and family members want and need community support through stories during such hard times. Most posts repeat the following words: fear, anger, anxiety, gratefulness, unfairness and change.
Breakdown of interventions:
- Card deck with prompting questions to get to be able to discuss and open up with family members, caregivers, create a stronger connection through a hardship.
- SunnySide* Film/hospital touring festival & platform; a platform of feel-good curated short films (no longer than 30 minutes) by fresh talent across the UK*/Spain (to decide). Ideally, they’d be screened in hospitals, either in the rooms for those who cannot go anywhere or as an event when possible. Otherwise, the option of making it solely a platform with whom patients in hospitals can access to with a password; there, they could have an option to journal based on the shorts they’ve seen. This would be curated by the help of psychologists.
- A non-profit filmmaking organisation focusing on producing short stories written by cancer patients with the hope of offering a way to express themselves and seeing their own creation come alive with the help of young and socially conscious filmmakers and volunteers.* (partnering up with film schools, colleges, acting courses, hospitals); turning short stories into realities. (the money raised from screenings would go into cancer research)* (funding is important – how do we select the stories?) stakeholders: cancer patients, hospitals, family members
- Inspirational platform of talks from cancer patients for cancer patients
I argue that a creative outlet that involves storytelling, communication and awareness could make an impact in cancer patient’s mental health. Whether that is by introducing a new project to be part of, seeing or achieving something they had not thought about before, unlocking their creative side, or by prompting them to communicate with their circle. Therefore, finding an intervention that can combine those elements and can remain an offline-online option to maintain inclusivity and broaden opportunities is essential.
The evolution of my question after a week multiple cancer Facebook groups:
[initial] How can creative entertainment improve the quality of life of hospitalised patients?
How to improve the effects of cancer treatment on mental health through creativity?
How can creative entertainment support the mental health of oncologic patients?
How can creativity improve the mental health of patients with cancer?
[Current] How can storytelling support the mental health of cancer patients?
key words: community, mental health, stories