Emotional and psychological support links

Information and support network for people affected by cancer.

A simple, online resource that aims to help you find cancer support services in your local area, wherever you are in the UK.

Free gifts and experiences for people financially affected by cancer.

Offering information, workshops and courses to help people change the way they live with cancer, both through their website (below) and at their centres (the closest Maggie’s Centre to Harrogate is Leeds).

An online resource to help you during and after cancer treatment. Short videos providing lots of advice to help you live well with cancer, as well as hints and tips to help improve your wellbeing.

Booklet on managing the stress of cancer, written by a Clinical Psychologist/ Lecturer, based on the experiences of many people with cancer.

Information from Macmillan about cancer and anxiety.

Information from Breast Cancer Now (though not about breast cancer specifically – relevant to any cancer) about the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Part of their “After treatment, then what?” series of articles.

Simple relaxation techniques to help manage some of the stress and anxiety that can come with a physical health diagnosis.

Brief exercises to help if you feel anxious or stressed in the context of a cancer diagnosis.

Information from Macmillan about how cancer and its treatment may affect the way you think and feel about your body.

Information leaflet from the Royal Marsden with links to access support around changes to the way your body feels, works, and looks as a results of cancer and cancer treatment.

The specialist authority for menopause and post reproductive health in the UK. Includes articles and advice about cancer and menopause.

Information about the menopause, including articles about the menopause in the context of cancer. (Part of a company set up by two GPs that also offers private individual support to women going through the menopause.)

Organisation that exists to inspire, support and empower people to move against cancer. Includes video workshops (including some by our local Active Against Cancer team) on managing different aspects of treatment, including sleep, cancer-related fatigue and exercising during chemo. Their website also has online exercise sessions. This organisation also offers the “5k your way” programme – an opportunity to walk, jog, run, cheer, volunteer or join for a coffee at your local parkrun (including Harrogate parkrun), and connect with other people impacted by cancer.

Information and tips for coping with chemotherapy, particularly when you notice that things feel difficult.

Information and tips for coping with radiotherapy, particularly when you notice that things feel difficult.

Information about treatment options for primary breast cancer. (Some information, including about chemotherapy, may be relevant to other types of cancer.)

Information from the Royal Marsden on coping with sleep difficulties in the context of cancer.

Information about how sleep can be affected by cancer, including ways to manage.

Information about struggling with sleep, including things that may help.

Information about sleeping difficulties in cancer and what can help.

Information and ways to improve sleep during and after cancer treatment.

A series of articles and videos about sleep and cancer (including sleeping in hospital, sleep with uncomfortable physical sensations and sleep for your partner).

Living with and beyond cancer

Free online and in person programmes, workshops and events for anyone over 18 who has finished cancer treatment.

A hub of articles to help you through and beyond breast cancer. Practical tips, expert advice, personal stories and signposts to further information for people impacted by breast cancer. (Although this is written for breast cancer, some of the articles are relevant to any type of cancer, including cancer treatment-related fatigue.)

An article by a Clinical Psychologist based on their experience of working with patients when they finish treatment. Includes a way of understanding the challenges presented by the end of treatment and ways to reflect of this.

6-session online self-management course designed to support you in developing techniques and strategies to manage several aspects of living with cancer. Can be done self-directed or facilitated (see upcoming facilitated course dates on the link below).

A series of articles on “After treatment, then what?”, designed to help you deal with some of the demands and pressures that come with finishing cancer treatment, and to guide you and support you. Written by a Clinical Psychologist in the Leeds Cancer Service.

Information to support you with finishing active treatment (although written for breast cancer, some information may be helpful for any cancer diagnosis and treatment).

Living with and beyond cancer

An organisation to help employees, employers, the self-employed, job seekers and carers to manage cancer and work.

Lists of books and other resources that may be helpful, for you as parents and for children of different ages and stages.

Information and support for parents with cancer who have children. They offer advice (written and webinars) on parenting through different aspects of cancer, lists of resources for different ages of children and a free coaching programme (online or in person).

Information and advice from Macmillan, including understanding children’s reactions at different ages.

Information and advice from Macmillan, including children’s understanding of death at different ages, possible questions they may ask and getting additional support. (Although it mentions preparing children for the death of a parent, the information can be relevant for preparing children for the death of any significant adult.)

Offer free guidance and support on how to prepare children when a parent has been diagnosed with a cancer that can’t be cured and time is limited. Offer a Family Support Service and also peer support groups.

Support for adult cancer patients who have children living with them. Offer free support packs and three local activities per family.

Living with and beyond cancer

Supports young people (aged 5-25) when a family member is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Offer online 1-to-1 support for young people, including video support in conjunction with schools.

Support children with a parent or sibling diagnosed with a critical illness. Offer family memory-making days to make precious, important memories together and can also fund a term of physical/sporting activity classes for the child (e.g. swimming/football).

Support women/birthing parents who have been diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or within 12 months of giving birth, or women/birthing parents who experience baby loss while diagnosed with cancer or in the 12 months prior to a cancer diagnosis. Offer emotional and financial support. Also offer 1-to-1 support to partners of people they’re actively supporting.

Organises respite (days out and short breaks) for families affected by cancer.

A hub of information to help with the practical, emotional and financial impacts of supporting someone with cancer.

Advice on telling family and friends about a cancer diagnosis, including practical tips.

Information and advice for carers on a variety of topics, including activities/events and factsheets.

Help and advice (including practical and financial) for unpaid carers of family member(s) or someone else close to them.

Support and information for people with cancer in their 20s, 30s and 40s, including online programmes (for patients and partners) and events (including an annual conference and monthly in-person meet ups in Yorkshire).

Offer exercise and mental wellbeing support, designed for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s living with and beyond cancer. Includes 8-week exercise programmes and online video exercise classes.

Provide special days for seriously ill young adults (aged 16-40).

Online support and free therapeutic holidays in Dorset for adults diagnosed with cancer before the age of 30 from anywhere in the UK.

Specialist bereavement support (including pre-bereavement support) and emotional wellbeing service for children, young people and adults across North Yorkshire.

Offer information on grief and bereavement (and offer support for people living in Craven but not elsewhere in North Yorkshire unfortunately).

Offer free, accessible online grief support to children and young people (aged 25 or under) across the UK who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important.

Support bereaved children and young people (up to and including age 25), through therapy, information and group sessions.

Community-based mental health and wellbeing support. Offer counselling, befriending, wellbeing groups and peer support groups.

A series of self-help guides covering a wide range of topics (including anxiety, bereavement, sleep, health anxiety, stress). Cover the causes of mental health issues and provide tools to work through feelings and emotions.

Information and advice on different aspects of mental health and wellbeing (including anxiety, sleep).

Mental health support for anxiety and depression, from “low-level” (online, phone or face-to-face) to one-to-one Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).