Coronavirus and your mental health

Sharing how you’re feeling with your clinical team or Youth Support Coordinator can be a good first step. They are there to look after all parts of your health, not just the physical side.  

They might be able to suggest some things to help or tell you about any local support you could use. Whatever you’re feeling, you’re not alone and the team are there to help. 

It’s important to be kind to yourself and remember that however you’re feeling is OK. 

Whatever is on your mind, it’s good to talk to the people around you about how they can continue to keep you safe, by respecting how you feel about things like socialising. If you ever have questions or worries, your clinical team are the first people to ask.  

And remember – it’s OK to still be cautious and it’s OK to ask others around you to be, too.  

There are also charities and organisations who are there to support your mental wellbeing. Check out the support available from Mind, YoungMinds, and Samaritans.  

Now that most of the major coronavirus restrictions have lifted across the UK it’s understandable that you might feel anxious as a young person with cancer.  

You might feel less able to ask people to still follow some steps to keep you safe, like keeping a distance or wearing a mask.  

But remember – we are all still being advised to be cautious, even if some of the things we’ve got used to doing aren’t legally required where you live now. And that includes the people around you too. 

But if they’re not currently helping you to feel protected, try talking with them and explaining how it makes you feel. It might be that they’re not sure what the advice is for vulnerable people now. 

And if you still feel uncomfortable, it’s OK to choose not to see some people right now. This might feel awkward, but putting your health first is always OK, and those around you should understand that.