What do you do if patients in advocacy need emotional and psychological support?
When advocating for patients, it's not uncommon to encounter individuals who require emotional and psychological support. As a patient advocate, your role extends beyond navigating healthcare systems and includes being attentive to the mental well-being of those you're assisting. It's crucial to recognize when patients might be struggling emotionally and to know the appropriate steps to take to provide support, comfort, and guidance.
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Dr. Akriti GakharDermatologist (MD,DNB,MBBS) • Influencer • Certified Aesthetic Medicine • Digital Doctor👩⚕️ • Skin Educator📹 • Myth…
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Jerilyn Arneson, PharmD, BCOPVeteran | Oncology/Specialty/Revenue Integrity Pharmacist | Financial Navigator | Medicare Benefits Counselor |…
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Sandra WashingtonBoard Certified Patient Advocate, Author, AI Distributor
To effectively support patients, you must first recognize the signs of emotional distress. These may include changes in mood, withdrawal from social interactions, expressions of hopelessness, or increased anxiety about medical conditions. By staying observant and empathetic, you can identify these cues early on and address them promptly. It's important to approach the patient with sensitivity and reassure them that their feelings are valid and that they are not alone in their journey.
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Dr. Akriti Gakhar
Dermatologist (MD,DNB,MBBS) • Influencer • Certified Aesthetic Medicine • Digital Doctor👩⚕️ • Skin Educator📹 • Myth Buster⁉️
As a dermatologist, I prioritize patient well-being, including emotional and psychological support. For patients in advocacy needing such support, I offer empathetic listening, validate their feelings, and provide resources for professional counseling if needed. I emphasize holistic care, recognizing the impact of skin conditions on mental health. I strive to create a safe and supportive environment, ensuring patients feel heard and supported throughout their journey.
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Brendon Scott
Experienced Emergency Response & Healthcare Project Consultant | Seeking to Lead Life-Saving Programs
Anxiety about medical conditions may be anxiety about medical decision making. Anxiety is faceless and careful observation is required to spot it so an advocate as part of their process needs to record physical signs, expressions, patients use during conversation. When there is a change in the normal behaviour you will be able to notice it fast to provide intervention early. Anxiety can portray in many ways such as not making a definitive decision, and others, becomes apathetic to answering questions on management and rather just answer " do what ever you think is right" is not always disassociating but could rather be the inability to control their anxiety
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Shumaila Imtiaz
Passionpreneur | Top Teamwork Voice (Linkedin) | Cognitive Catalyst | Digital Creator | Wellness Guide | Empowerment Architect | Pixel Pioneer | Journey & Event Architect | Homemaker | Mumpreneur | Author
Pay attention to signs of emotional distress or psychological struggles that patients may exhibit. These signs could include changes in behavior, mood swings, withdrawal from social activities, or expressions of sadness or hopelessness. Recognizing these signs early on can help you offer timely support and intervention. Example: If a patient frequently cancels appointments, seems disengaged during discussions, or appears unusually anxious, these could be signs that they need emotional support.
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Efraim Ariesandy
As many research and (empiric) publication has talked about emotional states of patients with disease management improvent, the psychoemotional aspect to address as common practice, from family doctors up to specialist treatment. Take an exampe of autoimmune diseases, there is an interplay between emotion (fundamental emotional responses) and immune system. I believe, by simply provide ‘check box of emotional condition of patient’ in every medical palractitioner’s mind that equally important to other treatment modalities, we can do so much better for our patients..
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Ravinder Bharti
Elevating Healthcare Marketing: Driving Growth & Innovation
If patients in advocacy need emotional and psychological support, offer empathetic listening and validation of their feelings to create a supportive environment. Provide information on available counseling services or support groups tailored to their needs. Collaborate with mental health professionals to offer comprehensive care and referrals when necessary. Utilize techniques such as active listening and validation to help patients explore their emotions and coping strategies. Regularly check in with patients to monitor their well-being and adjust support accordingly.
Active listening is a cornerstone of providing emotional support. This involves giving patients your undivided attention, acknowledging their feelings without judgment, and reflecting on what they've shared to ensure understanding. By doing so, you create a safe space for patients to express their concerns and fears. It's not always about finding immediate solutions; sometimes, the act of listening attentively is a powerful form of support in itself.
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Jerilyn Arneson, PharmD, BCOP
Veteran | Oncology/Specialty/Revenue Integrity Pharmacist | Financial Navigator | Medicare Benefits Counselor | Nonprofit Board Member | Public Speaker | Blogger
I couldn't agree with @Sandra Washington more! Patients with mental health, pain management and substance use disorder are frequently shut down or shut out of multiple providers b/c those providers think the patient is drug seeking, lying or faking it. Sometimes practicing active listening can be therapeutic for these patients. They just want to be seen, heard and believed. Regardless of whether the problem for what they're seeking care for exists or not, it is 100% true for that patient. Continued active listening builds relationships between you and the patient. Then they begin to feel safe telling you the truth, which I absolutely need as a pharmacist. Without a true picture of what a patient is really taking, I can't fully do my job.
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Sandra Washington
Board Certified Patient Advocate, Author, AI Distributor
Active listening is just one part of the solution related to advocating with or on behalf of a patient who is facing mental health challenges. The advocate should also use active hearing and speaking. Listening to listen and listening to hear and understand what the patient is experiencing is a skill that is often not used but should be. Doing so allows the patient to freely discuss what problems they are experiencing and as a result the correct resources can be provided to the patient.
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Marilyn Wilson, MSW
Clinical Research Specialist/Community Health Educator
Supporting patients in advocacy often involves more than just addressing their physical needs. If patients require emotional and psychological support, it's essential to provide a compassionate ear, validate their feelings, and connect them with appropriate resources such as counseling services or support groups. Encouraging them to express themselves openly and providing empathy can also be beneficial in helping them navigate their challenges.
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Shumaila Imtiaz
Passionpreneur | Top Teamwork Voice (Linkedin) | Cognitive Catalyst | Digital Creator | Wellness Guide | Empowerment Architect | Pixel Pioneer | Journey & Event Architect | Homemaker | Mumpreneur | Author
Practice active listening when patients express their feelings, concerns, or experiences. Give them your full attention, validate their emotions, and avoid interrupting or offering immediate solutions. Sometimes, all a person needs is to be heard and understood. Example: If a patient shares feelings of loneliness or frustration, you might respond with empathetic statements like, "I hear you, and I'm here to support you."
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Audriann Ragland LPN, BHA
Walmart Health
From my 29 years in healthcare I’ve learned that the most effective method of discerning what support is needed is to simply listen to the patient. Not so that you can regurgitate any of your stock responses and move on, but to truly understand their needs and appropriately plan a course of action. It is also important to be aware of any and all resources in your community that the patient can be connected to either directly or through referral. Listening with an educated mind and an empathetic heart can be the foundation on which your interventions can be built.
Once you've understood a patient's emotional needs, it's time to offer appropriate resources. This could include referrals to mental health professionals, support groups, or community services that specialize in helping individuals cope with the psychological aspects of illness. It's essential to have a network of resources at your disposal to ensure that patients receive comprehensive care that addresses both their physical and emotional health.
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Patricia Quadros Yates MSN, RN
Senior Oncology Research Nurse
As an oncology nurse I know that most of my patients are highly anxious and navigating resources is a highly anxiety producing activity. Often times they are not eligible for every resource. Recently I consolidated around 120 AYA resources down to 20 that a patient was actually eligible for. It was everything from oncology support, camp/ retreats, scholarships, financial aid etc. he was actually eligible for. He was so thankful and you could tell it eased his burden significantly. His shoulders relaxed and he was able to glance at the document we made for him and see all of the support he was eligible for. We also sent him the resource via email with hyperlinks to the websites. A little effort goes a long way for our patients.
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Lorrie Plein CNM
Team Builder who's passion is People and Food
I have created a list of Mental health resources I used in my journey to wellness. Most of them free to Canadians. I can share pros and cons to each as I have completed them all. CMHA Recovery College or Collabrative Learning College offer many free virtual courses. From Resume writing to Stand Up Comedy for Mental Health and a Peer Networking Group.
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Ashley Fox
RPN | Advanced Footcare Nurse | GPNC (C) |
Nothing worse than adding another thing to their overloaded task list. Ask them what resources they need. They don't need another page with a list of companies, agencies and numbers to call. If they are in need of support, offer them resources but also include guidence with that resource that helps with expectations, goals, and reality of what happens in the process.
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Robin Gehret
Trauma Registrar at Lehigh Valley Health Network
I would discuss with the patient to see if they are receptive to some resources. Forcing their hand serves no purpose. Include Social Work or Case Management if needed.
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Lynn G.
Fired up about respecting everyone for who they are! A nursing professional who truly cares about all of you.
Research shows that men have more difficulty accepting mental health care than women. The cache of resources should include some specific to each gender and culture. Anyone who does not feel comfortable when receiving mental health care will stop attending.
Encouraging patients to express themselves can be therapeutic. Whether through talking, writing, or art, self-expression helps individuals process their emotions. As an advocate, suggest various outlets for expression and help patients find the one that resonates with them. This not only aids in emotional healing but also empowers patients by giving them a sense of control over their journey.
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Shumaila Imtiaz
Passionpreneur | Top Teamwork Voice (Linkedin) | Cognitive Catalyst | Digital Creator | Wellness Guide | Empowerment Architect | Pixel Pioneer | Journey & Event Architect | Homemaker | Mumpreneur | Author
Encourage patients to express their feelings, fears, or concerns openly and honestly. Create a safe and non-judgmental space where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. Example: Ask open-ended questions like, "How are you feeling today?" or "Is there anything on your mind that you'd like to talk about?"
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Robin Gehret
Trauma Registrar at Lehigh Valley Health Network
Giving patients the ability to express themselves could potentially empower them in their own care. This can give them the tools to make better decisions upon discharge.
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Kristin D.
Nurse Manager-Mesa Center for Recovery (SARRTP)
In my experience, creating an environment to facilitate the ability to openly express ideas, concerns, fears, and support avenues is paramount. Provide active listening, validate their feelings, and avoid trying to instantly solve the perceived problem. This empowers patients to define what means most to them allows them to define what resources will add value for them in their journey.
Building resilience is key to helping patients cope with the psychological challenges of their health conditions. This involves fostering a sense of hope and helping them develop coping strategies that promote mental strength. Encourage patients to set achievable goals, maintain social connections, and engage in activities that bring them joy. By nurturing resilience, you help patients navigate their healthcare journey with greater confidence and positivity.
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Brendon Scott
Experienced Emergency Response & Healthcare Project Consultant | Seeking to Lead Life-Saving Programs
Building resilience can also be be regarded as paving the pathway. 1. Explain current position and the goal. 2. Break down the path into manageable bits: 2.a. Administration and Appointments 2.b Clinical assments, pathology, radiology, histology, etc. 3. Review progress and reassess the path to the goal. 4. Be realistic 5. Open communication. Utilising empathy, compassion, but keeping is on point and not creating false hope.
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Shumaila Imtiaz
Passionpreneur | Top Teamwork Voice (Linkedin) | Cognitive Catalyst | Digital Creator | Wellness Guide | Empowerment Architect | Pixel Pioneer | Journey & Event Architect | Homemaker | Mumpreneur | Author
Help patients build resilience and coping skills to better manage stress, challenges, and emotional distress. Offer guidance on relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, or coping strategies that can empower them to navigate difficult times more effectively. Example: Teach patients deep breathing exercises, guided imagery, or progressive muscle relaxation techniques to help them reduce stress and improve emotional well-being.
While providing emotional support is important, it's also vital to maintain professional boundaries. You must take care not to become overly involved in a patient's personal life or let their emotional state affect your well-being. Establish clear boundaries from the start and seek supervision or peer support if you find the emotional demands of advocacy challenging. Remember, taking care of yourself is essential to being an effective advocate for others.
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Shumaila Imtiaz
Passionpreneur | Top Teamwork Voice (Linkedin) | Cognitive Catalyst | Digital Creator | Wellness Guide | Empowerment Architect | Pixel Pioneer | Journey & Event Architect | Homemaker | Mumpreneur | Author
While it's important to offer support and empathy, it's also crucial to maintain professional boundaries. Be mindful of your role as an advocate and avoid taking on the emotional burden of patients' struggles. Encourage patients to seek specialized help when needed. Example: If a patient's emotional needs exceed your scope of practice, recommend they consult with a mental health professional or counselor for specialized support.
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Dr. Siva Sudha Tanga
Clinical Psychologist | Medical Doctor | R&D Associate | Newsletter Founder | University Silver Medallist | Top Scorer in All Academic Degrees |Top Patient Advocacy Voice | Top Case Management Voice
When individuals in advocacy need emotional support, I apply the OBSERVE approach. Firstly, I prioritize open communication, encouraging them to express their feelings freely. Being present and empathetic, I create a supportive environment where individuals feel heard and understood. I also show empathy by considering cultural and socioeconomic factors, ensuring their experiences are validated and respected. Additionally, I provide holistic mental health support, empowering them to navigate challenges effectively. This comprehensive approach addresses diverse needs, enhancing their overall well-being.
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Shumaila Imtiaz
Passionpreneur | Top Teamwork Voice (Linkedin) | Cognitive Catalyst | Digital Creator | Wellness Guide | Empowerment Architect | Pixel Pioneer | Journey & Event Architect | Homemaker | Mumpreneur | Author
Remember that each patient is unique, and their needs for emotional and psychological support will vary. It's important to approach each situation with empathy, compassion, and respect, tailoring your support strategies to meet the individual needs and preferences of each patient. Encourage ongoing communication, and be open to feedback to continuously improve your advocacy efforts.