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THALASSAEMIA CHAMPIONS PODCAST | New Episodes Now Available

With open dialogue-formatted episodes, featuring thalassaemia patient advocates, mental health professionals, and other special guests, this show explores everything from psychosocial anxiety and relationship issues to treatment-related fears while striving to demystify all stereotypes and taboos associated with mental health. Stories from patients with lived experiences who overcame mental hurdles and easy-to-digest, expert advice round out each episode.

About Episode 6

“Managing Family and Relationship Problems with β-Thalassaemia” is the sixth episode of the series, exploring the challenges of navigating personal relationships for individuals with thalassemia. Topics include determining when to disclose one’s condition, strategies for adult patients in Asian countries to overcome fear, and maintaining psychological satisfaction in romantic relationships.

The discussions emphasize the significance of finding the appropriate time to reveal one’s condition to minimize rejection, implementing strategies for a content family life despite the challenges, and balancing both partners’ physical and mental aspects for overall relationship satisfaction.


About Episode 5

In the episode “Dealing with Body Image Concerns in β-Thalassaemia,” two essential questions are addressed for individuals living with this condition. The conversation explores how to embrace and appreciate one’s unique body features, along with coping mechanisms for unalterable aspects.

The discussion also centers on supporting teenagers and adolescents with β-thalassaemia who may experience delayed growth and weaker physical health compared to their peers, while offering valuable guidance on alleviating body image anxieties. Our experts provide practical advice and emotional resources to encourage a healthier body image within the β-thalassaemia community.

About Episode 4

In this episode titled “Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms in Patients with β-Thalassaemia,” Mr. George Constantinou, TIF Board Member and Expert Thalassaemia Patient, moderates an insightful discussion featuring Dr. Evgenia T. Georganda, Psy.D., ECP, an Existential-Humanistic therapist, and Dr. Kathleen Durst, Clinical Social Worker at CAF. The panelists are joined by thalassaemia patients Ms. Joud Alaraj from Sweden, Mr. Avinab Paudel from Nepal, and Ms. Yasamin Setaki from Iran.

Throughout the episode, participants address critical questions regarding the mental health challenges faced by individuals with thalassaemia. They examine ways to help patients feel confident about themselves despite societal expectations and discuss supporting those living in countries where judgment and stigma may prevail. In-depth strategies for overcoming these obstacles and achieving mental resilience are also explored.

About Episode 3

Every individual has faced the rocky emotional terrain that a chronic illness, such as thalassaemia major, inevitably brings. In the 3rd and final for 2022 segment of the ‘Thalassaemia Champions – Mental Health Series’ podcast, Learning Resources for Coping With Illness: How to Put Yourself in Control”, the audience’s questions are used to instigate dialogue among our hosts and guests and help shed light on useful strategies that could help listeners put themselves in control over disease-related issues and situations.

About Episode 2

The second episode,Dealing With Worries About Current and Future Life Situations”, is all about helping patients cope with feelings of worry and anxiety about future and current life situations that can oftentimes be quite overwhelming. Discussing what patients themselves have brought up through their own questions, our hosts’ aim in this episode is to offer simple guidance and encouragement to help listeners break through negative thoughts and empower them to live their best life.


About Episode 1

In the first episode of this 3-part podcast series, entitled Dealing With Psychological Distress”, hosts George Constantinou, TIF Board Member and Expert Thalassaemia Patient, and Maria Hadjidemetriou, Cooley’s Anemia Foundation (CAF) Board Member and Member of TIF’s Patient Advocate Group (TPAG), delve deeper into the psychological distress patients with thalassaemia of all ages often experience. Guest speakers, Dr Michael Angastiniotis, TIF Medical Advisor, and Dr Kathleen Durst, Clinical Social Worker, CAF, offer unique insights and practical advice to help listeners escape negative thought cycles and reduce their anxiety.

The ‘Thalassaemia Champions: The Mental Health series’ is available for you to listen to on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Podcast Index, and many other directories. It will also be available on Apple Podcasts shortly.

The video version of the Podcast is featured on TIF’s YouTube channel.

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