ON WORLD Heart Day last Fri, the Heart Foundation promoted its free, online peer support community, MyHeart MyLife, for people living with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The national body for heart health's key message was that supporting the mental health and wellbeing of over four million people in Australia living with CVD is crucial to them avoiding further heart attacks or strokes.
Healthcare Programs Manager Natalie Raffoul explained the research showed that patients can feel isolated after a heart disease diagnosis or heart event.
"In our own research, most patients expressed a strong desire to feel a sense of belonging to a community that understood their unique journeys," Raffoul said.
"A heart event or diagnosis can be frightening and destabilising, and people long for reassurance from others about their future, quality of life and the prevention of recurrent events.
"The MyHeart MyLife group helps people feel comfortable sharing stories, seeking validation of their journey with heart disease."
There was a two-way relationship between mental health and cardiovascular disease, Raffoul added.
"Poor mental health increases CVD risk, and even causes a second event," she said.
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