‘It’s so important’: Nebraskan advocating for mental health resources for cancer patients

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — One Nebraska native is stepping up for those fighting a health battle on two fronts.

Diane Simard, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, has now dedicated her life to brining awareness to the subject.

Over 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

At the same time, mental health is also taking a toll on many of them.

“It is so important to focus on what you can control, what you can change, what you can do to affect change and help others that might be struggling,” Simard said.

She told Channel 8 she is trying to break the stigma and start the conversation.

“There’s just not a lot of talk about it or information shared about that,” she said. “So, as I advocate now, I just want to start conversations about what it’s like for those of us diagnosed with cancer and those who are impacted by someone’s cancer experience.”

Simard is taking steps to create more resources for cancer patients struggling with their mental health.

“I ended up ultimately realizing that we didn’t have a lot of these types of counselors, therapists, different types of practitioners trained to work with those impacted by cancer,” she said. “So I ended up founding and seeding a specialty at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Psychology that offers four specialty courses to train future licensed psychologists about what’s called psycho-social oncology”

Simard adds that she does this for the people she has met who have been suffering in silence.

“They start to talk and then eventually they all start to cry and I completely understand why,” she said. “It’s just not part of our culture, it’s just not part of our conversation. People forget that we have busy lives and so I just want to put out there that I care.”