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NCCN's Commitment to Mental Health Resources

During May, designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) emphasizes its dedication to addressing the psychological challenges faced by cancer patients. Recent updates include the latest version of the Distress Thermometer and Problem List, which has been made available in over 70 languages. This screening tool is designed to help oncology specialists quickly assess distress levels in patients, allowing them to identify and address the psychological, physical, social, or spiritual issues that may hinder cancer management.

Accessibility of Resources

The NCCN is proud to provide free access to its Distress Thermometer Screening Tool at NCCN.org/distress-thermometer. This user-friendly, one-page tool facilitates swift identification of distress, helping healthcare providers act promptly to offer support. In addition, the NCCN has developed educational resources to aid medical staff in managing patient distress, further supported by funding from NCCN Foundation. Recently, an updated version geared towards patients and caregivers was released, featuring clear language, illustrations, and a glossary for better understanding.

Dr. Crystal S. Denlinger, the Chief Executive Officer of NCCN, highlighted the importance of emotional and social well-being for individuals battling cancer. She stated, "Quality oncology care involves a holistic treatment approach, recognizing and addressing the array of practical and psychological challenges that may arise." By updating the Distress Thermometer and Problem List in multiple languages, the NCCN endeavors to ensure everyone has access to necessary support.

Global Reach of the Distress Thermometer

In 2025, the Distress Thermometer was downloaded nearly 7,000 times worldwide, with the highest usage rates recorded in Germany, Brazil, India, China, and Switzerland. A research abstract presented at the 2026 NCCN Annual Conference suggested that the translated version of the NCCN Distress Thermometer is an effective and culturally appropriate tool for identifying psychological suffering among Armenian-speaking patients. These findings support the tool's broader use to enhance oncology care quality.

The effectiveness of the NCCN Distress Thermometer in measuring psychological distress has been previously validated in an independent, peer-reviewed study covering 25 countries, published in the journal Psycho-Oncology in 2022.

Extensive Language Availability

The availability of the NCCN Distress Thermometer spans a diverse range of languages beyond English. Users can access resources in:

• - Afrikaans
• - Albanian
• - Amharic
• - Arabic
• - Armenian
• - Bengali
• - Bulgarian
• - Burmese
• - Catalan
• - Chinese
• - Croatian
• - Czech
• - Danish
• - Dutch
• - Estonian
• - Finnish
• - French
• - Galician
• - Georgian
• - German
• - Greek
• - Hausa
• - Hebrew
• - Hindi
• - Hmong
• - Hungarian
• - Icelandic
• - Igbo
• - Indonesian
• - Italian
• - Japanese
• - Javanese
• - Khmer
• - Korean
• - Kurdish
• - Latvian
• - Lithuanian
• - Macedonian
• - Malay
• - Malayalam
• - Marathi
• - Nepali
• - Norwegian
• - Oromo
• - Persian
• - Polish
• - Portuguese
• - Punjabi
• - Romanian
• - Russian
• - Serbian
• - Slovak
• - Slovenian
• - Somali
• - Spanish
• - Swahili
• - Swedish
• - Tagalog
• - Tamil
• - Telugu
• - Thai
• - Turkish
• - Ukrainian
• - Urdu
• - Vietnamese
• - Yoruba
• - Zulu.

The NCCN Distress Thermometer is a crucial component of the NCCN Guidelines® on distress management in oncology, contributing to a comprehensive library of evidence-based guidelines. These documents are crafted with input from over 2,000 specialists across various disciplines and cover numerous types of cancers as well as critical topics like pain, fatigue, cessation of smoking, and survivorship. Currently, there are 91 active NCCN Guidelines®, establishing best practices in supportive care, screening, prevention, and treatment for almost all cancers.

The NCCN Guidelines have undergone over 90 adaptations for various countries and have been translated more than 180 times, with nearly half of all registered users of NCCN.org located outside the United States. For further information on NCCN resources aimed at improving global oncology care quality, visit NCCN.org/global.

About NCCN

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers committed to enhancing patient care, research, and education. NCCN aims to define and advance quality standards for effective, equitable cancer care and prevention, transforming lives for individuals impacted by cancer. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) provide transparent, evidence-based recommendations for cancer treatment and prevention, as well as supportive care. Recognized as the benchmark for clinical practice in oncology, these guidelines are the most comprehensive and regularly updated in the medical field. Patient resources from NCCN® offer detailed information about cancer treatment, empowering patients and caregivers through support from the NCCN Foundation. NCCN also focuses on continuing education, global initiatives, research partnerships, and publishing works related to oncology.