NORWAY — The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine (CRCofWM) is thrilled to announce that it has received a one-year Oxford County Community Building Grant from the Maine Community Foundation. The funds will be used to improve access to mental health services for cancer patients in Oxford County via a partnership with Oxford County Mental Health Services (OCMHS). A cancer diagnosis is almost always life-changing for cancer patients and their families, which often brings significant hardship in many areas of their lives. The prospect of facing a life-threatening illness, enduring difficult treatment, and possibly losing the ability to work due to side effects of the treatment can create emotional distress for some people.

The current gap in available mental health counseling services has led to wait times of several months to see a mental health professional and many cancer patients eventually go without care. A collaboration with OCMHS will streamline the referral process and improve access to affordable mental health counseling for cancer patients seen at the CRCofWM who are seeking this type of support. The Cancer Resource Center will cover fees and a limited number of co-pays per patient. “We care about promoting community wellness and increasing access to mental health services by offering outpatient services to those who are going through the hardship of a cancer diagnosis,” said Ashlee Brooks, LCSW, Clinical Director at Oxford County Mental Health Services.

“We are very grateful to the Maine Community Foundation for this opportunity to provide the resources to address a serious, unmet need here in Oxford County. Many of our clients ask us for help finding local mental health providers to support their emotional needs,” said Diane Madden, Executive Director of the CRCofWM. “Having a local provider in the Oxford County community willing to work with us will help cancer patients get mental health services when they need it most.”