About

I believe in the power of psychology to make a difference.

As a trained psychologist who chose to write and publish about psychology rather than work as one, it’s not surprising that I believe that publishing can be a powerful tool to promote mental health.

In 2013, when I published the first edition of the book Facing the Tiger: A Survivorship Guide for Men with Prostate Cancer and their Partners by Professor Suzanne Chambers AO, I was blown away by what she had created — a paperback resource that made a real difference to people’s mental health. Not just to the men diagnosed with cancer but also to their loved ones, struggling to understand and support their partner. Suzanne’s work in the field of psych-oncology is truly impressive. Her commitment to men’s health, amazing. Her talent for communicating in language that men understand, vital and complete.

Prostate cancer remains a frightening prospect for men and their families. The disease, its treatments, its effects on the bodies and minds of men who have experienced a diagnosis, demands the immediate worldwide focus by the medical profession on psychological care. It is as vital to cancer survivorship as medical treatment.

That means much more than just awareness of the psychological stress of prostate cancer, waiting for men to ask for help, or even asking them if they are okay. Men are notorious for not seeking help when they should.

The key to making a difference to the mental health of men with prostate cancer lies with accessible psychological support in the form of evidence-informed survivorship care interventions from the point of diagnosis and throughout a man’s treatment journey. Suzanne Chambers and her colleagues, through years of research, practice and application have produced a unique psychological care approach to allow health professionals to achieve that goal.

Stephen May BSc. (Hons) Psych