Recognised for a number of decades is the high prevalence of physical health disorders and increased mortality in persons with a serious mental illness (SMI) (Scott & Happell, 2011). For people with SMI, physical health promotion does not currently fit easily within the health system as a result of multiple boundaries. The capability of the system to respond is hindered because of these boundaries. In 2007, more than half of Australian adults who had experienced SMI between the ages of 16-85, reported a co-occurring physical condition in the previous twelve months (Scott & Happell, 2011). Often, the most common causes of mortality are treatable effects of poor physical health (Happell, Scott, Platania phung, & Nakivell, 2012). Individuals with
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals with a SMI is related to multiple factors. The most significant behavioural risk factors for CVD are poor diet, tobacco use and physical inactivity (Hardy & Gray, 2012). These unhealthy behaviours can cause metabolic risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and high blood glucose levels (Hardy & Gray, 2012). There are multiple reasons for these behaviours. They include: symptoms of mental illness, other co-occurring mental health diagnoses, unemployment and low socioeconomic status, comorbid physical illness, suboptimal lifestyle factors, the inadequate monitoring and proactive treatment of CVD risk factors by mental health clinicians, and adverse metabolic effects of psychotropic medication (Gladigau, et al. 2013). Mental health professionals should promote physical health and provide appropriate therapeutic interventions that reduce modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (Hardy & Gray, 2012). Education on exercise, healthy eating and how to reduce the use of substances such as tobacco should be incorporated into care (Robson & Gray, 2007). When the client first comes into contact with mental health services this should
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals with a SMI is related to multiple factors. The most significant behavioural risk factors for CVD are poor diet, tobacco use and physical inactivity (Hardy & Gray, 2012). These unhealthy behaviours can cause metabolic risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and high blood glucose levels (Hardy & Gray, 2012). There are multiple reasons for these behaviours. They include: symptoms of mental illness, other co-occurring mental health diagnoses, unemployment and low socioeconomic status, comorbid physical illness, suboptimal lifestyle factors, the inadequate monitoring and proactive treatment of CVD risk factors by mental health clinicians, and adverse metabolic effects of psychotropic medication (Gladigau, et al. 2013). Mental health professionals should promote physical health and provide appropriate therapeutic interventions that reduce modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (Hardy & Gray, 2012). Education on exercise, healthy eating and how to reduce the use of substances such as tobacco should be incorporated into care (Robson & Gray, 2007). When the client first comes into contact with mental health services this should