A well-being support program for patients with severe mental illness: a service evaluation

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Services Research
• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Background:

• Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) experience significantly reduced life expectancy due to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
• High prevalence of overweight/obesity and lifestyle risk factors for CVD in the SMI population.
• Low self-esteem is common among individuals with SMI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of a Well-Being Support Program (WSP) for improving physical health in patients with SMI.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of a trained mental health practitioner-led intervention.
• To identify challenges and successes in engaging this population in physical health programs.

Main Methods:

• Pragmatic service evaluation of a four-session Well-Being Support Program (WSP) delivered over one year.
• Mental health practitioners received additional training in physical health assessment and intervention.
• Patients underwent physical health screening, with one-to-one and group interventions offered.

Main Results:

• 212 practitioners trained; 782 patients enrolled. 66% of patients were overweight or obese (BMI >25).
• Average attendance was 2.10 sessions; completion rate was just under 25%.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) was the only significantly altered cardiovascular risk factor in completers. Qualitative feedback was largely positive.

Conclusions:

• Intervention to improve physical health in people with SMI is essential.
• Sustaining patient engagement in physical health programs for SMI populations is a significant challenge.
• Comprehensive physical health monitoring is crucial for demonstrating intervention benefits and improving longevity and well-being.