Healing hearts & minds

Background: This workshop draws from ‘Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease’ published in Jan 2023 by Oxford University Press. Delivered by one of the co-authors, the workshop aims to help psychologists better support people living with congenital heart disease (CHD) and other serious lifelong medical conditions. Over 250,000 adults in the UK are living CHD – the term for a range of birth defects that affect the normal way the heart works and around 90% now survive compared to 20% during the 1940s. With better medical care, babies born today with CHD have a good chance of surviving, yet throughout their entire lives they can face surgeries, invasive treatments, medical check-ups, medical trauma, and limitations on physical activity, in addition to poor public awareness which can have an impact on
social inclusion. Little attention has been paid to the psychosocial impacts on these individuals, especially as they grow, mature, and become adults living with a serious, chronic medical condition. From feeling self-conscious about scars, any missed education, impact on relationships, finances and life choices to difficulties accessing recommended specialist care this condition can feel ever-present. This book, co-authored by two mental health professionals, both
living with CHD dependent on pioneering treatment, is the first to focus on the psychosocial, emotional, and practical challenges in living with CHD.

Conclusions: Full of evidence-based it helps to create a plan for healthy coping strategies to support people living with CHD, their families, and healthcare professionals which are drawn from during this session to inform professional practice.