Abstract
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing to draw attention and to express my opinion on the critical mental health issues faced by the spouse of the cardiac patient. Normally the patient’s well-being takes center stage and the mental health of the spouse gets neglected. This letter aims to highlight the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Heart diseases may lead to a patient’s physical and emotional distress, job loss, disability, and reduced quality of life. While empirical research suggests that coronary artery bypass surgery graft surgery is stressful for the patient, and the patient’s spouse may be under more stress than the patient.
Anxiety and depression are common mental issues in the spouse of the cardiac patient. The spouse is the person who witnesses the occurrence of the event that is the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction. The spouse has a feeling of helplessness and fear. Mostly there is uncertainty about the future which may lead to the potential loss of the spouse/partner.
Research shows that the female spouse has more anxiety levels than the male spouse. This mental illness issue mostly occurs in the nuclear family as the spouse is the primary caregiver to the patient. The spouse has to manage the household and the parental responsibilities along with the caregiving. The spouse has a burden of financial management which mostly occurs in the unemployed person. Research has also shown that the mental illness of a spouse may affect the recovery of the patient and may lead to an increase in the mortality rate.
Healthcare providers should recognize the mental health needs of the spouse of the cardiac patient. They should provide some counseling and support services to the spouse. They should engage the spouse in the patient’s care and treatment plan. They should provide clear information about the prognosis and treatment options which may help to decrease the anxiety and depression among spouses of the cardiac patient.
Further, the health care provider can target some awareness programs that can provide support for the improvement of the mental health of the spouse. By these, we can create more supportive environments for the patient as well as their loved ones. These programs should be conducted within the families and various communities. The mental health professionals can also provide individual therapy to the spouse.
In conclusion, recognizing the spouse’s mental health and the spouse facing the various challenges has to be taken care of. As it is a crucial point it may affect the patient’s health also. It can be achieved by prioritizing the support services and the awareness programs. The spouse should be encouraged the self-care and to prioritize their wellbeing.