This course promotes an evidence-based wholistic approach to care and management of depression and anxiety in individuals with cancer. The content and structure of the course is based on the Pan-Canadian Practice Guideline: Screening, Assessment and Management of Psychosocial Distress, Major Depression and Anxiety in Adults with Cancer.

Available online, on-demand at any time this course consists of six modules, and is open to all clinicians working in cancer care.

Emotional distress is common in cancer. Take this course to:

• Understand more about risk factors for anxiety and depression in cancer
• Obtain the latest information on best practices in distress management
• Reduce patients’ physical and psychological suffering and enhance quality of care

This course has been designed for front-line providers, including physicians; nurses; and allied health care providers.

The following areas are covered in the modules:

• Prevalence and risk factors for anxiety and depression in cancer patients
• The bio-psycho-social etiology and pathophysiology of anxiety and depression
• Elements involved in initial screening, comprehensive assessment and focused assessment
• Assessing risk of immediate harm
• Differences between suicidal ideation, request for Medically Assisted Dying, or Desire for Hastened Death
• Clinical pathway based on distress severity
• Psychosocial treatment options
• Pharmacological treatment options
• Practical team-based interventions across the continuum of emotional distress

The Management of Depression and Anxiety in Cancer course was developed in collaboration between Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) and de Souza Institute. 

Course Syllabus

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course covers core competencies outlined in the Pan Canadian Practice Guideline.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify risk factors for anxiety and depression
• Explain the elements involved in initial screening and comprehensive assessment
• Describe the utility of validated anxiety and depression rating scales
• Discriminate pathological states from adaptive anxiety
• Describe common anxiety disorders in cancer
• Explain how major depression is diagnosed in a patient with cancer
• Explain how distress severity determines treatment interventions
• Recognize when to refer to psychosocial specialist
• List the non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches for the management and treatment of depression and anxiety
• Raise awareness among colleagues regarding the clinical significance of anxiety and depression to support stigma reduction for patients
• Utilize supportive counselling tips for emotional distress across all phases of the cancer journey

Course Syllabus: To view the course syllabus, please click HERE

Eligibility

Available to all health care professionals working along the cancer care continuum. This course is open to participants with any level of experience: from novice to experts.  

If you are a resident/clinical fellow in medicine, please contact us for information on special pricing available to you.

Payment must be received before you have access to the course. For more information, please visit our Cancellation & No Show Policy.

Participants can pay for this course online with a credit card, or send a cheque to: