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