Long-term health conditions
A long-term health condition can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. Pain and sickness can restrict your ability to do the things you enjoy and can mean you lose out on certain opportunities. It’s not unusual to experience low moods if you are living with a long-term health condition or caring for someone who is.
Below you’ll find links to information, advice and research explaining how certain conditions affect your mental and emotional wellbeing. Linking in with a support service or peer group who shares your experience can help you understand how you’re feeling and when you should ask for help.
Cancer
- Macmillan – cancer and your emotions
- Irish Cancer Society – Cancer and mental health
- Mental Health Foundation – cancer and mental health
- BUPA – looking after your mental health during and after cancer
- Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group – emotions and feelings
- Irish Cancer Society – giving emotional care
Alzheimers and Dementia
- Alzheimers Society – mental wellbeing and depression in dementia
- Alzheimers Society – the psychological and emotional impact of dementia
- Alzheimers Society – your health and wellbeing as a person caring for someone with dementia
- Alzheimer Society of Ireland – Looking after yourself
- Mental Health Foundation – dementia
Parkinson’s Disease
- Parkinson’s UK – Parkinson’s and mental health
- Parkinson’s Association of Ireland – newly diagnosed
- All Party Parliamentary Group on Parkinson’s – mental health matters too
- Parkinson’s UK – Mental Health Matters too
- Lancaster University – impact of COVID-19 on people with Parkinson’s
Chest, heart and stroke
- NI Chest, Heart & Stroke – family support service
- Irish Heart – anxiety and mental health
- Stroke Association – steps emotional support
- Asthma and Lung UK – managing COPD
- British Heart Foundation – heart disease and mental health
Multiple Sclerosis
Arthritis and muscoluskeletal pain
- Arthrtis Action – mental health and wellbeing
- BUPA – psychological support for lower back pain
- Arthritis Foundation – The Emotion-Pain connection
- Able magazine – Fibromyalgia and the relationship with mental health
Epilepsy
- Mental Health Society – Mental Health and Epilepsy
- Epilepsy Action – low mood, depression and anxiety