Supporting whānau through child cancer: Parents' perspectives of a specialised national community-based counselling network.
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OBJECTIVE: Child cancer is a traumatic experience that challenges family functioning. While most treatment facilities offer psychosocial support, community services for families seeking independent support or for those not currently on treatment are limited. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Child Cancer counselling Network (CCCN) was developed to provide specialised counselling support via a national network of mental health professionals, available at any point during the cancer journey. This study aimed to evaluate the program from the perspective of parent users. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven mothers who accessed the counselling service. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. RESULTS: Five major themes were found. "The Educated Outsider" and "A Safe Space," highlighted the unique support the CCCN provided compared to social networks and treatment centres. "Breaking Stigmas" and "Optimising Access" suggested ways to improve access to the CCCN. Finally, Future Focus Areas pointed to potential improvements, including a stronger palliative focus and culturally appropriate support for Māori. CONCLUSION: Families reported a range of benefits from accessing the CCCN. The service offers flexible, external, specialised counselling that fills gaps in support, and shows potential as a translatable model for other child conditions.