One-on-One Live: Starting the Conversation About Emotional Wellness

Matt James, an adult with CF, and Anna Georgiopoulos, M.D., discuss the importance of mental health in CF care, including what to expect from the recently published guidelines for screening and treating depression and anxiety. Watch the One-on-One Live video here.  

| 2 min read
Robert-Fay
Robert Fay
Robert-Fay-1-on-1-square

Broadcasted from NACFC in Phoenix, this year's One-on-One Live was a discussion on mental health between Matt James, a 35-year-old with CF, and Anna Georgiopoulos, M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a member of the multidisciplinary CF care team at Massachusetts General Hospital. Matt posed questions -- of his own and those submitted by the CF community -- to Dr. Georgiopoulos about the recently published guidelines for screening and treating depression and anxiety in people with CF and family caregivers. The result was an eye-opening discussion about how to make emotional wellness a part of routine CF care.

I was struck by Matt's comment that many people with CF play down the emotional toll the disease takes when interacting with their care teams. He asked Dr. Georgiopoulos, "how effective can this screening be and how do you avoid that type of fooling mentality?” A great question on Matt's part. If you missed watching the session live, hear Dr. Georgiopoulos' response in the archived video below.

I think the discussion made it clear that depression and anxiety can be treated successfully, which is why working the screening and treatment of them into overall CF care -- and talking about them honestly -- is so important.

This site contains general information about cystic fibrosis, as well as personal insight from the CF community. Opinions and experiences shared by members of our community, including but not limited to people with CF and their families, belong solely to the blog post author and do not represent those of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, unless explicitly stated. In addition, the site is not intended as a substitute for treatment advice from a medical professional. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your treatment.

Share this article
Topics
North American CF Conference | Emotional Wellness
Robert-Fay

In his job as a medical communications writer, Robert is charged with writing material that helps people with CF and their families gain a better understanding of the disease and to make informed decisions about care. Prior to joining the CF Foundation, Robert wrote web-based patient education material for 10 years in Boston, where he also began playing hockey. In 2012, the northern Virginia native returned to the Washington, D.C., area after 16 years away.

Recent Community Posts
Finding Strength in Vulnerability
Blog | 4 min read
Coping With Unexpected Health Complications
Blog | 6 min read
Dear Moms of Children With CF
Blog | 4 min read