Psychiatrist Discusses Signs of Depression After Cancer Diagnosis

Psychiatrist Liat Jarkon, D.O., director of the Center for Behavioral Health, appeared in a News12 Breast Cancer Awareness Month segment regarding the mental health struggles that can accompany a diagnosis. Jarkon noted that 24 percent of breast cancer patients have clinical depression, which is why it’s critical for family members to understand the signs.

“It’s very important for people to understand that feeling down in the dumps is different from feeling depressed,” she said. “The two are very, very different. Signs and symptoms [of clinical depression include] a lot of changes in the patient’s moods and their energy levels – they disconnect, becoming more ‘internal’ and less available emotionally; they stop functioning as they should.”

Jarkon also urged caregivers to pursue their own mental health treatment options, especially so as not to burden the patient with their fears and anxieties.