The American Cancer Society estimates that in the year 2021 there will be 88,260 new cases of Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) (ages 15 – 39) cancers in the United States. In addition to facing key developmental life milestones, AYAs also face a number of health disparities and quality of life issues related to cancer that can affect disease outcome, survival rates and coping with the distressing side effects of cancer. As a result, a growing number of AYAs report access to adequate mental health resources as a top, unmet need to manage cancer related morbidities such as anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress. 

The transformative practice of mindful self-compassion offers a new way to embrace healing by teaching us how to be kind to ourselves in moments of difficulty or suffering. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) — developed by Christopher Germer, PhD, a leader in the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy, and Kristin Neff, PhD, a pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion — is an empirically supported program that shows how the development of a compassionate inner voice decreases stress, cultivates resilience and overall contributes to long term well-being. 

Please join Dr. Karen Bluth, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UNC and MSC Instructor, and Amelia Coffaro, certified Yoga Therapist and AYA survivor, as they explore how self-compassion can support the unique emotional and mental health needs of AYAs across the cancer care continuum. This session will include guided, experiential practice and time for Q&A.

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