Read Time: 3 minutes
Takeaway:
Emotional distress during cancer care is common, and integrating mental health into oncology helps normalize conversations and catch concerns earlier.
Embedding mental health providers directly into patient care teams offers coordinated support that helps patients cope during diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Impact: Huntsman Cancer Institute advances a model of cancer care where mental health is routinely addressed, ensuring patients receive emotional support alongside medical treatment.
Cancer affects every part of life—body, mind, and spirit. Yet for many years, mental health was seen as separate from cancer treatment. Today, that’s changing.
Kevin Byrne, MD, psychiatrist and member of the Supportive Oncology and Survivorship team at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Huntsman Mental Health Institute, says integrating emotional support into cancer care can make a powerful difference.
“When oncology teams build mental health check-ins into routine care, it sends a powerful message that emotional well-being matters just as much as physical symptoms,” he says. “Catching these issues early makes a real difference.”
Breaking the Silence
"The goal is clear: to make sure no one faces the mental and emotional challenges of cancer alone”
— Kevin Byrne, MD
Emotional challenges are common during cancer care. Fear, sadness, and fatigue are natural responses—but when they start to interfere with daily life, extra support can help. Byrne says oncologists play a key role in normalizing these conversations.
“The oncologists and palliative care teams here do an excellent job of both screening for mental health concerns and making appropriate referrals,” he notes. “They also recognize when a conversation about fear or grief is what’s needed, and when to bring in specialized psychiatric expertise.”
Collaborative, Compassionate Care
At Huntsman Cancer Institute, mental health providers work side by side with oncologists, nurses, and social workers to support patients from diagnosis through survivorship. Byrne is part of this growing model of collaborative care, consulting on both emotional and pharmacological needs.
“It’s exciting work,” he says. “We’re learning how to embed mental health support into the cancer journey—not as an afterthought, but as part of the foundation of care.”
A Health System That Listens
Byrne notes that the field is still evolving, with research underway to identify the best ways to integrate mental health and oncology. “It’s complex work that requires significant resources and coordination,” he says. “But the goal is clear: to make sure no one faces the mental and emotional challenges of cancer alone.”
Your mental health matters. Learn how Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Supportive Oncology and Survivorship team can help you or a loved one navigate emotional well-being during treatment. Call 801-587-7000 to speak to a patient registration specialist.