World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD)
It is with great pleasure that I formally launch the 2026 World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD) happening on the 9th of April. This initiative is led by our IPOS federation members, which elevates the visibility and impact of psycho-oncology worldwide.
This special day honours the extraordinary legacy of the late Dr. Jimmie Holland, whose pioneering work has transformed the way we understand and address the psychosocial dimensions of cancer care. World Psycho-Oncology Day serves as a global platform to raise awareness of the importance of addressing the psychological and emotional needs of people affected by cancer and integrating it into the mainstream of cancer care, in order to provide wholistic care to cancer patients.
We invite each of you to participate in this landmark event by spreading awareness, organizing activities, and contributing to the success of the World Psycho-Oncology Day. Together, we can ensure that psychosocial care remains a cornerstone of cancer care globally.
Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved. Let’s unite to make April 9, 2026, a day of inspiration, education, and action for psycho-oncology.
Yours sincerely,
Chioma Asuzu, PhD
President, International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS)
Key Goals:
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Raise Awareness: Increase global recognition of psycho-oncology as an essential component of cancer care.
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Honour Jimmie Holland: Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Jimmie Holland, who laid the foundation for psycho-oncology.
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Engage Stakeholders: Involve healthcare professionals, organizations, policymakers, and the public in recognizing and promoting the importance of psycho-oncology.
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Promote Action: Encourage the integration of psycho-oncology in cancer care policies and practices worldwide.
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Support Fundraising Efforts: Provide opportunities to raise funds for IPOS and federation members to support psycho-oncology initiatives.
World Psycho-Oncology Day will serve as a platform to:
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Educate the public, healthcare providers, and policymakers about the importance of psychosocial support in cancer care.
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Advocate for the integration of psycho-oncology into national and global cancer care guidelines.
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Celebrate the progress made in the field while highlighting areas needing further development.
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Empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals with resources and tools to prioritize mental health alongside physical health.
Get Involved in World Psycho-Oncology Day:
World Psycho-Oncology Day is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the psychological and emotional impact of cancer. It brings together professionals, institutions, and communities to advocate for better mental health support for cancer patients and their caregivers. You do not need to be an IPOS Federation member in order to submit or participate.
How You Can Participate
Awareness and Media Campaigns
- Organize press conferences and media outreach to highlight the importance of psycho-oncology.
- Launch social media campaigns using hashtags, infographics, and videos to spread awareness.
- Produce awareness videos featuring patient stories and expert insights about psycho-oncology where possible.
- Partner with influencers and celebrities to amplify the message.
Community and Institutional Engagement
- Collaborate with hospitals, universities, and workplaces to promote psycho-oncology services.
- Host awareness talks, support groups, and health fairs to engage local communities.
Educational and Advocacy Efforts
- Organize symposiums, public lectures, and workshops to educate professionals and the public.
- Advocate for policy changes and increased funding to integrate psycho-oncology into healthcare systems.
Global and Joint Initiatives
- Light up landmarks worldwide to symbolize unity in psycho-oncology awareness.
- Coordinate international testimonial videos, social media campaigns, and virtual symposiums to create a truly global impact.
Join us in making a difference — because mental health care is an essential part of cancer care.
How to get involved:
- Holding an event and/or initiative to celebrate, or as part of WPOD? Submit details by going to https://funnelcom.typeform.com/to/vP5EY33M
- A committee will review all submissions and decide if suitable for IPOS to promote on our website, social media and in our emails.
- Approved submissions will be sent the WPOD logo for inclusion on local promotions.
- Special note: inclusion of the WPOD logo is not to be perceived as endorsement from IPOS. As such, IPOS may ask it to be noted that the event/initiative is solely for WPOD and not being endorsed by IPOS.
- Use the hashtag #WPOD2026
- Use the WPOD logo
Please note: These events are part of WPOD by the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS), but the content of these activities is not IPOS-endorsed.
- Share how you are involved!
- Share photos, messages, social media using #WPOD2026 on April 9 annually
Want to donate to IPOS in celebration of World Psycho-Oncology Day?
IPOS accepts financial support from all people interested in seeing cancer survivors and their loved ones receive the support and guidance they need while coping with cancer. Contributions will be used to further awareness of this need and to train oncology professionals to support their patients effectively on a psychological and social level. IPOS is a 501(c)(3) organization — in the U.S., donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. For all other countries, financial contributions to IPOS may be tax deductible. Contact your tax consultant for additional information or clarification regarding charitable deductions from donations to IPOS.
Donations can be made with Visa, MasterCard or American Express and will be charged in US funds. An instant receipt will be issued for donations paid for by credit card. IPOS also accepts donations made by check or money order payments. Remittance must be drawn on a U.S. bank or be an international money order in U.S. Dollars.
Your donation to IPOS supports programs that advance psychosocial oncology, improving the quality of care that cancer patients receive. With your generous contribution, IPOS will be able to expand its current programs and create new services while striving to ensure that all people with cancer have access to psychosocial services.
To donate, go to https://ipos-society.org/Donate
Questions: [email protected]
WPOD Promotional Video — Make It Visible
The WPOD Committee created the following video in English, titled Make It Visible, to assist with the promotion of World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD) 2026. The music and vocal track for the English version were generated using Suno AI. You are encouraged the share the videos and the hasthag #maketheinvisiblevisible.
Versions are also available with subtitles in other languages. All versions maintain the same musical structure, with language variations provided through subtitles to preserve consistency while reflecting global participation. Currently available versions include:
Brazilian PortugueseHindiSimplified ChineseWPOD Events/Initiatives WorldWide
Please note: These events are part of WPOD by the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS), but the content of these activities is not IPOS-endorsed.
Virtual To celebrate World Psycho-Oncology Day on April 9, a digital solidarity campaign has been launched to invite global participation in raising awareness through a dedicated WPOD Twibbonize photo frame. Participants can show their support by visiting the campaign link to upload a photo and apply the official frame, which can then be downloaded for use as a profile icon on platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. By joining this visual movement and utilizing the hashtag #WPOD, supporters contribute to a powerful collective statement that underscores the critical importance of psychological care in cancer treatment and advocates for the emotional wellbeing of patients and their families worldwide. Upload a photo to contribute to the photo frame: https://twb.nz/wpod |
Taiwan Canada Virtual The SIOP PPO will be posting content to promote WOPD on our social media platforms. This content will include quotes from childhood cancer survivors and members of the PPO community, sharing their perspectives and experiences with psychosocial support in cancer care. On social media, we will only post brief “Did you know?” trivia. |
Virtual https://www.capo.ca/event-6485684 By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
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Canada
In-person event
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Türkiye
In-person event A Continuing Medical Education (CME) program organized by Manipal Hospice and Respite Care Centre (MHRC) to commemorate World Psycho-Oncology Day. The event will bring together oncology, psychiatry, clinical psychology, and palliative care professionals to discuss psychosocial aspects of cancer care, including distress screening, caregiver support, communication in serious illness, and interdisciplinary referral pathways. The program aims to strengthen integration of psychosocial care within oncology and hospice settings through dialogue, case-based discussion, and collaborative learning https://linktr.ee/mhrc_manipal |
Manipal, Udupi, India
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Republic of North MacedoniaNigeria The Psycho-Oncology Society of Nigeria is marking the day/month by encouraging her members to share a short WPOD video on their different social media platforms. |
Virtual event https://www.facebook.com/share/1D28fsgZSH/?mibextid=wwXIfr This is a conversational space with members of the psycho-oncology field, who throughout this year have provided care to oncology patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. In the context of World Psycho-Oncology Day, this event will be held via Facebook Live. It will be a free event where experiences, reflections, and insights gained from supporting individuals in the oncology setting will be shared. |
Ecuador
Hybrid event Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psihoonkoloski_centar/?hl=en On the occasion of World Psycho-Oncology Day (April 9, 2026), the Psycho-Oncology Centre from Serbia proudly joins the global initiative led by the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS). We would also like to take this opportunity to present the work of our organization. Through our work, we are dedicated to improving psychological support for oncology patients and their families, with a special focus on accessibility of care in smaller and rural communities. As part of one of our key projects, we organize visits to villages across Vojvodina, an autonomous province in Serbia, where we hold educational sessions and engage directly with local communities. Through these activities, we:
In addition to our fieldwork, we are actively involved in the education and empowerment of volunteers. Through structured training programs, we prepare them to work with oncology patients in a professional, empathetic, and supportive manner. Our activities are carried out in close collaboration with patient associations, as we believe that a multidisciplinary approach, as well as the exchange of knowledge and experience, is essential for providing comprehensive and high-quality support. By actively marking World Psycho-Oncology Day, we reaffirm our belief that mental health is as important as physical health in cancer care. We are proud to contribute to this goal through our work. |
Serbia
Virtual event Facebook, LinkedIn and X, WhatsApp profile and chats The Role of Psycho Oncology In Cancer Care. |
Kenya
Virtual event This seminar aims to bring together a diverse range of voices from psycho-oncologists in Latin America, with a focus on identifying the need to promote psychological care as part of a comprehensive approach to the care of cancer patients and their families. |
Mexico
Facebook Page- Psychoncooncology and Supportive Palliative Care Group of the Philippines On April 9, the Psychooncology and Supportive Palliative Care Group of the Philippines will launch a series of educational campaigns thru social media, radio show, and training workshops highlighting the importance of early screening for distress and psychosocial-spiritual care in cancer. |
Philippines
In-person event: New Taipei City In observance of World Psycho-Oncology Day on April 9th, we are launching a health education initiative to raise awareness of psycho-oncological well-being. The event will feature interactive booths hosted by social, psychological, and spiritual care professionals, focusing on Advance Care Planning(ACP), Do Not Resuscitate(DNR) promotion, cancer education, and psychological distress screening. Additionally, specialists from various disciplines will deliver keynote talks to share their specific intervention strategies in cancer care. Through these educational efforts and assessments, we aim to provide holistic support for patients and caregivers, foster a more supportive environment, and actively reduce the social stigma associated with cancer. |
Taiwan
Hybrid event TV Broadcast: April 9, 2026 | 20:00 – 20:23 UTC (23:00 – 23:23 Romania local time, UTC+3), TVR1 (with potential rebroadcast on other TVR channels) Organizer: Association of Patients with Chronic Diseases “Restart to Life” Main Media Partner: Romanian Television (TVR- national television) World Psycho-Oncology Day highlights an essential dimension of modern medicine: the integration of psychological care into oncology. The emotional, cognitive, and social impact of a cancer diagnosis is not secondary, but a fundamental component of treatment, adaptation, and recovery. The national project “We Dance for Life” translates this message into a coherent and accessible visual format, built around a synchronized national flash mob, performed simultaneously in multiple cities across Romania. This national flash mob represents the core element of the project and functions as a civic visual act, in which participants — members of local communities and psycho-oncological support groups — perform a unified choreography, followed by editorial interventions and testimonials. In this way, a complex medical concept is transformed into a collective, recognizable, and emotionally impactful experience. The project is carried out simultaneously in several Romanian cities through a coordinated national flash mob, complemented by documentary filming and interviews. Filming already completed: 📍 Regional Institute of Oncology, Iași (flash mob + interviews) 📍 Cluj-Napoca – Matei Corvin Square (flash mob + urban footage) Upcoming: 📍 Bucharest – Charles de Gaulle Square, Herăstrău Park 📅 March 31, 2026, 17:00 – main flash mob 📍 Brașov – Council Square 📅 April 1, 2026, 16:30 – final flash mob The event involves communities from 12 cities across Romania, where the “Restart to Life” Association provides free psychological support groups for oncology patients and their caregivers: Bucharest, Iași, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, Constanța, Năvodari, Bistrița, Deva, Ploiești, Pitești, Târgoviște, additional affiliated communities Participants in the flash mob are largely drawn from these communities, ensuring authenticity and human relevance. The project is developed as a complex national media product, editorially coordinated by TVR, integrating:
This structure creates a coherent narrative combining artistic expression, medical knowledge, and lived experience. Following the TV broadcast, the content will be adapted into short thematic video capsules, distributed across TVR’s and partners’ digital platforms over a period of approximately two weeks, extending reach and accessibility. Romanian Television plays a key role in:
Editorial Objectives
Social Objectives
By using a national flash mob as a public communication tool, the project “We Dance for Life” transforms psycho-oncology from an abstract medical concept into a visible, accessible, and socially meaningful collective experience. |
Romania
Virtual event Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84734553310?pwd=tbWybASyCaj8fZUc4I5mVuxjUUEXYa.1 For more information https://www.instagram.com/sigppo.india?igsh=MWl4bmd6dWpzdXZ5ag== The Pediatric Psycho-Oncology Special Interest Group (SIGPPO), under the Indian Childhood Cancer Initiative (ICCI), is organizing an academic session as part of World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD) 2026. This session will feature Laura DeKraker Lang‑Ree, parent advocate and award‑winning author of The Cancer Parent’s Handbook, who will speak on strengthening caregiver–clinician partnerships in pediatric cancer care. The session aims to highlight the importance of family-centered care, effective communication, and caregiver empowerment across the pediatric oncology continuum. It will bring together an interdisciplinary audience of mental health professionals, oncologists, nurses, social workers, and allied healthcare providers to foster dialogue and learning around psychosocial care practices. |
India
Virtual event The seminar will be delivered online via Zoom and is free of charge. More information about the event can be found on the official website and Instagram account of the Psycho-Oncological Association https://www.psikoonkolog.org.tr/ https://www.instagram.com/psikoonkologlar/ This event is organized within the scope of World Psycho-Oncology Day (April 9), a global initiative aimed at increasing the visibility and impact of psycho-oncology. The seminar is designed as an introductory session for psychology students and early-career mental health professionals who are interested in the field of psycho-oncology. It aims to raise awareness about the psychological and psychosocial dimensions of cancer care, and to highlight the importance of integrating mental health into oncology settings. The initiative also acknowledges and honors the legacy of Jimmie Holland, whose pioneering work established psycho-oncology as an essential component of comprehensive cancer care. The event is organized by the Psycho-Oncological Association (Türkiye) with the following objectives:
The speaker is Dr. Lara Utku Ince, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and board member of the Psycho-Oncological Association (Türkiye) |
Izmir, Türkiye
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India
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Bengaluru, India
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Mexico
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Australia
In-person event https://www.instagram.com/profdrcemiltascioglush?igsh=MTI1OGdveThhazc= This in-person educational session is organized within the scope of World Psycho-Oncology Day to raise awareness about the importance of psychosocial care in cancer. The session is designed for oncology patients and their caregivers and focuses on emotional challenges experienced throughout the cancer journey, such as anxiety, uncertainty, and fear of recurrence. Participants will receive information about coping strategies, psychological support, and ways to improve well-being beyond active treatment. Supportive approaches, including laughter-based interventions, will also be introduced to enhance emotional resilience and social connection. This initiative is part of our hospital’s Oncology Patient School and is led by a psychiatric nurse with a PhD, whose academic work and doctoral research focus on psycho-oncology and psychosocial care for cancer patients. The aim of this initiative is to emphasize that cancer care goes beyond physical treatment and that continuous psychosocial support is essential for improving quality of life, while also empowering patients and caregivers through knowledge and shared experiences. |
Istanbul, Türkiye
| Izmir, Türkiye In-person event A presentation for the staff doctors of Acıbadem Kent Hospital about psycho-oncology's role and importance. |
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| Sydney, Australia In-person event
(1) Informational material (e.g., posters, flyers) to be on display to patients, families and carers of patients at the Melanoma Institute on the week of WPOD day. (2) Informational material about mental health care in melanoma to be shared on the Melanoma Institute website. (3) A stand placed at the Melanoma Institute reception area, where in-house psycho-oncologists will be available to talk to patients and families about mental health in the context of melanoma, raising awareness about the importance of psychological care in this context. |
| Jerusalem, Israel In-person event Psycho-social oncology Seminar on caregivers to older cancer patients Including all the psycho-social workers of Hadassah University hospital in Jerusalem Israel https://www.mta.ac.il/events |
 Taipei, Taiwan In-person event With advances in cancer treat ment, survival rates have improved significantly. However, many patients and their families experience substantial psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, fear of cancer recurrence, caregiver burden, and social adjustment difficulties. Psychosocial well-being has become a critical component of quality cancer care, influencing treatment adherence, health outcomes, and overall quality of life. To address this need, the Taiwan Psycho-Oncology Society (TPOS) has developed the National Guideline for Psychosocial Supportive Care for Cancer Patients and Families (Aug. 2025). The guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on distress screening, stepped care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and community integration. In conjunction with World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD), TPOS and the Hope Foundation for Cancer Care will organize a national press conference and public awareness campaign to officially release the guideline and promote psychosocial care as a standard component of comprehensive cancer care. |
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India
In-person event Symposium on Psycho Oncology emphasising the essential role and contribution to holistic care in comprehensive cancer care. |
Chennai, India Kwun Tong, Hong KongArt Heals - listen to our mind In-person event April 13, 2026 | 11 a.m. to 29 Apr 1 p.m. HKT www.cancerinformation.com.hk In recognition of World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD) 2026, We proudly present "Art Heals" – a multi‑session workshop series that harnesses the power of creative expression to support the psychological well‑being of people affected by cancer. Grounded in the evidence that art therapy reduces anxiety, depression, and cancer‑related distress, this campaign translates IPOS’s mission into action: promoting global excellence in psychosocial care through education, advocacy and humanistic approaches. The series includes three immersive experiences:
By integrating art into psychosocial cancer care, Art Heals directly supports IPOS’s vision: to improve care for people affected by cancer worldwide – one brushstroke, one museum gallery, one quiet creative moment at a time. Join us to experience how art heals the mind, nurtures the spirit, and builds community in the face of cancer. |
 Mexico Hybrid event/Modalidad presencial y virtual April 15 & 16, 2026/15 y 16 de abril 2026 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ciudad de México https://www.facebook.com/share/18fesdL1KE/ https://www.facebook.com/share/17MyH537nn/ En México impulsamos el bienestar emocional en cada etapa de la vida 💙 Te invitamos al 1er Congreso de Psicooncología y Bienestar emocional en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología. El Instituto Nacional de Cancerología INCan, Unidad de Oncología Integrativa UnOI, la Comisión Nacional de Salud Mental y Adicciones CONASAMA y FIPOL Formación de Investigación Psicosocial Oncológica Latinoamericana FIPOL te invitan. ¡Inscríbete y sé parte! |
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TürkiyeIPOS WPOD Logo ToolkitThe WPOD logos can be used on April 9 to celebrate World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD). Events that have been submitted online for approval, and have received approval from IPOS, can also use the logo on event promotions.Click on the button below to access the toolkit. |
International Psycho-Oncology Society 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite L296 T: +1 416-968-0260 | Sitemap |
