On this Mother’s Day, put equal emphasis on mothers’ physical and mental health

In May 2022, a friend convinced Arianne Lang, 44 and a resident of Anmore, near Vancouver, to access British Columbia’s free breast-cancer screening program for women over 40. Unfortunately, “free” did not mean “easy.” Like an estimated 6.5 million of her fellow Canadians, Lang lacked a family physician or nurse practitioner to receive her results. This created a potentially dangerous situation if she needed followup testing or care.Lang knew that she did not want to plug up an already stretched healthcare system by going to an ER or urgent care centre. And even if she did go, she would face hours long waits or even be turned away. Instead, she chose the convenience of TELUS Health MyCare, a publicly-funded virtual primary care clinic where patients can get prescriptions, have lab work ordered, and be referred to specialists in B.C., Alberta and Ontario. It is a huge boon to busy mothers like Lang who need access to healthcare whenever, and wherever, they may be. “As a mom, being able to book an appointment and meet with a family physician online is extremely convenient with our busy schedule; especially when you’re not feeling well,” Lang said. The benefits of this service go beyond typical virtual walk-in clinics, allowing users to choose the same doctor they saw previously, and even provides support to people experiencing serious conditions such as cancer.Read: Photo gallery: TELUS’s new public primary care clinic in TorontoThis is exactly what happened to Lang. A concerning result on the mammogram led to a diagnosis of breast cancer. “In many ways, knowing that I could have my mammogram results sent there may have saved my life,” Lang added.Lang expected a fight as she began treatment. She knew cancer could take a physical toll, but what she did not realize was the toll it would take on her mental health. In fact, upwards of 20% of cancer patients experience depression and 10% deal with anxiety. It started with the difficulty of explaining her diagnosis to her son. No mother wants to share that kind of news with their children. In addition to battling her physical symptoms, Lang’s mind was crippled with anxiety about her son’s needs and how to maintain a sense of normalcy for him—orchestrating school pickups, planning meals, maintaining homework routines and driving to basketball practices and games. She feared her illness would disrupt the very stability she, as a mom, had worked so hard to create.For the first time she sought the support of a counsellor to help her cope and ultimately rediscovered the relationship between physical and mental health. By incorporating good mental hygiene into each day with activities that contributed to a positive mindset, Lang sustained her mental health throughout the course of her treatment.Lang was fortunate: More than half of patients with worsening mental health do not receive therapy. This is alarming when considering that mental health issues are one of the leading causes of disability and lost days of work globally. While Lang was able to access therapy, many others face untenable public wait lists or private alternatives that are financially out of reach.Caught early, Lang’s cancer was treated through surgery and radiation therapy. She’s now cancer-free. Lang is on a mission to educate others on proactive health management as well as tools to support their mental health while recovering from cancer. Her journey underscores the importance of early care intervention, access to healthcare and mental health support.Lang’s story also highlights some of the gaps in Canada’s healthcare system, and how innovative technologies are supporting people like her to live their healthiest lives. This Mother’s Day, let’s show appreciation to mothers everywhere by advocating for flexible and convenient healthcare services that meet busy people where they are at. And let’s also make sure mental health care gets as much attention as physical health.Dr. Matthew Chow is chief mental health officer for TELUS Health. Dr. Chow served as president of Doctors of BC in 2021 and oversaw billions of public health dollars as a member of the Medical Services Commission of BC from 2016-2020. He is a specialist in psychiatry with a subspecialization in child and adolescent psychiatry.

On this Mother’s Day, put equal emphasis on mothers’ physical and mental health

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