Managing chronic disease: The mental health connection

Chronic disease not only affects an individual’s physical health but can take a toll on one’s mental health. Searching for a diagnosis, going through treatment, trying to manage pain, and the socioeconomic strain of care can all have a significant impact on one’s stress levels and mental well- being. Mental Health America has partnered with the National Pancreas Foundation to further explore this connection in order to better understand, address, and educate on the impacts chronic disease can have on one’s mental health.
In this webinar, we will hear from professionals working within various areas of chronic disease on the connection to mental health that they have seen or studied. We will also hear from an individual with lived experience on how their diagnosis has impacted their life.
*Gain knowledge from experts on the connection between chronic disease, quality of life, and mental health
*Explore how different chronic diseases impact the mental health of those living with the disease and their caregivers
*Hear firsthand from an individual with lived experience about their mental health journey while living with chronic disease

[@doompdx401]

Interesting presentation. I'm a veteran with chronic pancreatitis. I was on a stable dose of opioids that helped me function but in February radically accepted that the VA is unwilling/unable to provide multi modal pain care if that care includes a narcotic. This is after years of medical gaslighting around pain and opioids. I stopped taking pain medicine and added VSED (voluntary stop eating drinking) to my Advanced Care Directive. I will live my ideals until the pain and loss of function become too great, and then I'm checking out. "In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice."~Viktor Frankl

[@NationalPancreasFdn]

Hello! We are sincerely sorry to hear of your difficulties related to pancreatitis. I invite you to message me directly @[e-mail] so that I may send you some resources that may be of help. Again, we empathise with your health circumstances and thank you for visiting out channel to learn more.