Cystic Fibrosis Canada Launches Mental Health Resource Hub

Cystic Fibrosis Canada is proud to announce the launch of the Mental Health Resource Hub, designed to support the mental well-being and reduce the emotional burden for individuals living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their caregivers. 

Living with a chronic and fatal disease like cystic fibrosis presents unique challenges, and those affected, including parents and caregivers, are two to three times more likely to experience anxiety and depression than the general population.  

The development of the Mental Health Resource Hub is in direct response to input from the Canadian CF community who identified their mental health needs as a significant priority to be addressed through research, education, resources and support during 2023 consultations to support the development of Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s strategic plan.   

The Mental Health Resource Hub provides practical tools, guidance, and support for managing mental health alongside the physical aspects of CF care. The Mental Health Resource Hub lives on Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s website and enables people to search for local resources and more, including: 

• Information on coping strategies and mental wellness tips 
• Guidance for parents and caregivers supporting loved ones with CF 
• Tools for connecting with mental health professionals familiar with the CF community 
• Contact information for national and provincial mental health organizations 

“Our Canadian CF community has long shared with us the need for more support around mental health,” said Kelly Grover, President and CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “Living with a chronic and fatal disease like cystic fibrosis brings emotional and social challenges such as anxiety, depression, and the mental strain of navigating a complex healthcare system. We are excited to offer this resource as a first step toward supporting our community’s mental health needs.” 

The hub was developed in consultation with individuals living with cystic fibrosis and caregivers and Canadian CF social workers and aligns with Cystic Fibrosis Canada's strategic approach to connecting people to resources so that the emotional impacts of the disease are reduced, and ensuring an inclusive environment where everyone is heard, seen and respected. The Mental Health Resource Hub can also serve as a support tool for the 40 Canadian cystic fibrosis clinics.  

The Mental Health Resource Hub was in part made possible thanks to the support of donors and sponsors, including The Colleen Kohse Fund, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Google.  

For more information the Mental Health Hub, please contact Jana Kocourek, Director of Healthcare programs at jkocourek@cysticfibrosis.ca.  

Media Contact: 

Nicole Young 
Director, Marketing & Communications 
Cystic Fibrosis Canada 
nyoung@cysticfibrosis.ca