Скачать или смотреть Dr Peter Kelly - Improving the health of disadvantaged populations

University of Wollongong
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Research shows that people with a history of mental illness demonstrate much poorer physical health than people from the general population. This is most apparent for people who have experienced severe and chronic mental health conditions, including substance use disorders and psychotic illnesses. The average life expectancy for this population is between 15 to 25 years less than the general population.

People diagnosed with psychotic disorders have much higher rates of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Cardiovascular disease and cancer share common behavioural risk factors. These risk behaviours include smoking, alcohol abuse, low levels of fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical inactivity.

An emerging area of preventive health research is focused on examining the effectiveness of delivering interventions that address these multiple health risk behaviours. It is essential that multiple health behaviour change research is conducted with our most disadvantaged population groups. Dr Kelly’s team has successfully piloted a series of healthy lifestyle interventions with people experiencing chronic mental illness. They have an opportunity to help improve the health of people with chronic mental illness. As demonstrated by the research team, clients are willing to engage in healthy lifestyle interventions and it is feasible to deliver these interventions with this population.