Accessing healthcare is not always straightforward. For people experiencing mental ill-health, it can be even more complex — shaped by anxiety, fragmented services and a lack of tailored support. One of the key ambitions of the CO-CAPTAIN project has been to address these barriers through a Patient Navigation model designed to guide and support individuals in accessing cancer prevention services.
To better understand its real impact, we spoke with a participant from the Austria pilot, a 28-year-old peer support worker based in Vienna, who shared their personal experience of living with mental ill-health and engaging with the navigation programme.
Their journey with mental health began early: “It sort of followed me ever since I was a child,” they explain. Over time, accessing the right support proved challenging. It was only later, after moving to Vienna and actively seeking help, that a more stable recovery process began. Today, they combine lived experience with professional practice, supporting others facing similar challenges.
Against this background, the CO-CAPTAIN navigation programme offered something different — not just information, but structured, personalised support. One of the most valuable aspects, they recall, was the opportunity to take a step back and reflect: “It was really helpful to sit down with someone and think: where am I standing now, and what am I maybe ignoring in my healthcare?”
This reflective process helped uncover needs that had previously been overlooked, particularly in relation to preventive care. For example, attending routine health appointments — something often postponed or avoided — became more manageable through guided planning and follow-up support.
A key strength of the navigation model lies in its human-centred approach. Rather than navigating complex systems alone, the participant describes having someone who could translate information, reduce uncertainty and provide reassurance: “Getting information in a calm way, outside of a stressful environment like a hospital, made it much easier to understand and act on.”
The support extended beyond information-sharing. It also addressed emotional and behavioural barriers, such as fear, avoidance or difficulty initiating contact with healthcare services. Together with the navigator, tasks were broken down into achievable steps — from identifying nearby services to preparing questions for medical appointments: “Having someone on your team helped me feel more comfortable and self-assured… it made things that felt overwhelming actually doable.”
This sense of accompaniment was repeatedly highlighted as a defining element of the experience. The relationship struck a balance between professional distance and personal support, creating a safe space for engagement without pressure or judgement: “Not feeling alone in this… that was one of the most valuable parts.”
Importantly, the impact of the programme extended beyond the duration of the intervention. The participant reports lasting changes in behaviour and confidence, including improved engagement with preventive services and reduced anxiety around navigating healthcare systems.
While the overall experience was highly positive, they also identified areas for improvement. In particular, they suggested that more regular face-to-face follow-ups could help maintain engagement, especially during periods of high stress when digital communication can be easier to avoid.
Looking back, the participant emphasises both the practical and emotional value of the programme: “It really helped with confidence and not feeling ashamed… I just wish it would be available to more people.”
Their experience reflects a broader message emerging from CO-CAPTAIN: effective cancer prevention requires more than information — it requires support, trust and continuity of care, especially for those facing additional vulnerabilities.
By bringing these voices to the forefront, the project highlights the importance of designing health interventions that are not only evidence-based, but also grounded in real-life experiences.
