Expanding collaborative care: integrating the role of dietitians and nutrition interventions in services for people with mental illness

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott B Teasdale ◽  
Geogina Latimer ◽  
Annette Byron ◽  
Vanessa Schuldt ◽  
Josephine Pizzinga ◽  
...  

Objective: This article aims to draw mental health clinicians’ attention to the connections between nutrition and mental health, and the roles that Accredited Practising Dietitians play in improving mental and physical health through dietary change. Methods: Selective narrative review. Results: Unhealthy dietary practices are common in high prevalence and severe mental illness. Epidemiological evidence demonstrates that nutrients and dietary patterns impact on mental health. In addition, poor physical health is well documented in people with mental illness and the greatest contributor to the mortality gap. Dietary intervention studies demonstrate improved mental and physical health outcomes. Accredited Practising Dietitians translate nutrition science into practical advice to improve the nutritional status of patients with mental illness, and prevent and manage comorbidities in a variety of care settings. Conclusions: Medical Nutrition Therapy offers opportunities to improve the physical and mental health of people living with mental illness.

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 308-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Chen ◽  
Stephen Lawrie

Aims and methodMedia portrayals of mental illness have long been recognised as being misleading and stigmatising. Following the campaigns of several advocacy groups to address this issue, we aimed to evaluate the impact on mental health reporting over time. We repeated a survey we did 15 years ago using the same methods. Nine UK daily newspapers were surveyed over a 4-week period and coded with a schema to analyse the reporting of mental health compared with physical health.ResultsIn total, 963 articles – 200 on mental health and 763 on physical health – were identified. Over half of the articles on mental health were negative in tone: 18.5% indicated an association with violence compared with 0.3% of articles on physical health. However, there were more quotes from patients with mental disorders than physical disorders (22.5% v. 19.7%) and an equal mention of treatment and rehabilitation.Clinical implicationsMental health in print media remains tainted by themes of violence, however some improvement in reporting in recent years is evident, in particular by providing a voice for people with mental illness.


Author(s):  
Mike McHugh

Until recently the biomedical model dominated thinking about both physical health and mental health in Western society. It is now more useful to frame health as an integrated totality—one that includes physiological functioning, psychological and spiritual processes, and behaviour. This chapter explores this emerging agenda and focuses on well-being and prevention, particularly where well-being and prevention impact on both physical and mental illness. Evidence tells us that by strengthening mental health and well-being we not only reduce the risk of mental illness, but we also enhance physical health and population health more widely. Equally, improving physical health has a significantly positive influence on population mental health. We can increasingly exploit our understanding of these interconnections and release their potential to tackle some of the pressing health and well-being challenges we face. We have an opportunity to meaningfully draw physical and mental health together as a mutually dependent, integrated whole.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2092-2099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly K. McClanahan ◽  
Marlene B. Huff ◽  
Hatim A. Omar

Holistic health, incorporating mind and body as equally important and unified components of health, is a concept utilized in some health care arenas in the United States (U.S.) over the past 30 years. However, in the U.S., mental health is not seen as conceptually integral to physical health and, thus, holistic health cannot be realized until the historical concept of mind-body dualism, continuing stigma regarding mental illness, lack of mental health parity in insurance, and inaccurate public perceptions regarding mental illness are adequately addressed and resolved. Until then, mental and physical health will continue to be viewed as disparate entities rather than parts of a unified whole. We conclude that the U.S. currently does not generally incorporate the tenets of holistic health in its view of the mental and physical health of its citizens, and provide some suggestions for changing that viewpoint.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Dyg Sperling ◽  
Nina Dalkner ◽  
Christina Berndt ◽  
Eva Fleischmann ◽  
Michaela Ratzenhofer ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased psychological strain on public mental health and may impact behavioral, mental, and physical health, presumably with effects on patients with severe mental disorders. This study examines pandemic-related physical and mental health and (compensatory) behavioral changes, in patients with BD as compared to healthy control individuals.Method: Physical and mental health and self-reported changes in daily structure and behavior due to the pandemic were assessed using a self-constructed questionnaire and the brief symptom inventory (BSI) in Germany, Austria, and Denmark in individuals with BD and a healthy control group.Results: The present study included 118 individuals with BD and 215 healthy controls. Individuals with BD reported statistically significant higher physical risk burden, increased weight gain, more physical comorbidities, and a decrease in physical activity and they further reported higher rates of COVID-19 testing, had more worries concerning health, and experienced more anxiety but less social distancing.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a greater impact on physical health in individuals with BD than in healthy controls. Individuals with BD appear to be having more difficulties compensating their behavior due to the pandemic which could amplify the effect of risk factors associated with poorer physical health. This highlights the necessity for optimizing and targeting the overall treatment of both mental and physical health in patients with BD during periods with far-reaching changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Limitations: Sampling issues and self-report forms, selectivity (missing elderly, and those lacking access or knowledge of technology).


2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Bates ◽  
Vivien Kemp ◽  
Mohan Isaac

The physical health of individuals with long-term mental illnesses has long been of concern. In Western Australia, the overall mortality rate from preventable causes of people living with mental illness was reported to be 2.5 times greater than that of the general population. A trial peer support service was initiated to assist people with mental illness to attend to their physical health needs. This paper presents the planning, implementation, and results of this collaborative initiative involving nongovernment agencies, the public mental health service, consumers of mental health services, and the University of Western Australia.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Happell ◽  
Chris Platania-Phung ◽  
Stephanie Webster ◽  
Brian McKenna ◽  
Freyja Millar ◽  
...  

Objectives The aim of the present study was to document Australian policies on the physical health of people with mental illness and evaluate the capacity of policy to support health needs. Methods A search of state and federal policies on mental and physical illness was conducted, as well as detailed analysis of policy content and the relationships between policies, by applying the World Health Organization Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2020 as an evaluative framework. Results National policy attention to the physical health of people with mental illness has grown, but there is little interconnection at the national and state levels. State policies across the country are inconsistent, and there is little evidence of consistent policy implementation. Conclusions A coherent national health policy framework on addressing co-occurring physical and mental illnesses that includes healthcare system reforms and ensuring the interconnectedness of other relevant services should be prioritised. What is known about the topic? People with mental illness have a lower life expectancy and poorer physical health than people who do not have a mental illness. Government policy is critical to reducing inequalities in physical health and increasing longevity. What does this paper add? Evaluating policy developments against the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2020, this review identified a lack of cohesive national-level policy on how to improve the physical health of people with mental illness. Although there are some state-based policies regarding strategies for better prevention and management of the physical health of people with mental illness, evidence of policy implementation is either scarce or inconsistent. The capacity of current policy to translate into reforms that increase the physical and overall health of people suffering mental health difficulties seems very limited. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper outlines major policy gaps and an overall need for a national-level policy. National-level leadership on integrated health care is required, with monitoring to ensure health care reforms are genuinely informed by consumer and clinician views and are effective.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Margaret Weigel ◽  
Rodrigo X. Armijos ◽  
Marcia Racines ◽  
William Cevallos ◽  
Nancy P. Castro

Chronic physical and mental health conditions account for a rising proportion of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the Americas region. Household food insecurity (HFI) has been linked to chronic disease in US and Canadian women but it is uncertain if the same is true for low- and middle-income Latin American countries in epidemiologic transition. We conducted a survey to investigate the association of HFI with the physical and mental health of 794 women with children living in low-income Quito, Ecuador, neighborhoods. Data were collected on HFI and health indicators including self-reported health (SF-1), mental health (MHI-5), blood pressure, and self-reported mental and physical health complaints. Fasting blood glucose and lipids were measured in a subsample. The multivariate analyses revealed that HFI was associated with poorer self-rated health, low MHI-5 scores, and mental health complaints including stress, depression, and ethnospecific illnesses. It was also associated with chest tightness/discomfort/pain, dental disease, and gastrointestinal illness but not other conditions. The findings suggest that improving food security in low-income households may help reduce the burden of mental distress in women with children. The hypothesized link with diabetes and hypertension may become more apparent as Ecuador moves further along in the epidemiologic transition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 3900-3917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassidy Bradley ◽  
Gabriela Ilie ◽  
Cody MacDonald ◽  
Lia Massoeurs ◽  
Jasmine Dang Cam-Tu ◽  
...  

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients and survivors are at high risk of mental health illness. Here, we examined the contribution of treatment regret, mental and physical health indicators to the social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being of PCa survivors. The study assessed 367 men with a history of PCa residing in the Maritimes Canada who were surveyed between 2017 and 2021. The outcomes were social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being (FACT-P,FACIT-Sp). Predictor variables included urinary, bowel and sexual function (UCLA-PCI), physical and mental health (SF-12), and treatment regret. Logistic regression analyses were controlled for age, income, and survivorship time. Poor social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being was identified among 54.4%, 26.5%, 49.9% and 63.8% of the men in the sample. Men who reported treatment regret had 3.62, 5.58, or 4.63 higher odds of poor social/family, emotional, and functional well-being, respectively. Men with low household income had 3.77 times higher odds for poor social/ well-being. Good mental health was a protective factor for poor social/family, emotional, functional, or spiritual well-being. Better physical and sexual health were protective factors for poor functional well-being. Seeking to promote PCa patients’ autonomy in treatment decisions and recognizing this process’ vulnerability in health care contexts is warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Ro ◽  
Victoria E. Rodriguez ◽  
Laura E. Enriquez

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic may have disproportionately affected the mental and physical health of undocumented students and students with undocumented parents. Methods We analyzed primary data from 2111 California college students collected March–June 2020. We estimated the odds of mental or physical health being affected “a great deal” by COVID by immigration group and then examined whether this was moderated by campus belonging or resource use. Results Students with undocumented parents were least likely to report COVID-related mental and physical health effects. Undocumented students and students whose parents have lawful immigration status did not differ in their COVID-related physical and mental health. For all students, more campus resource use and higher campus belonging were associated with negative mental and physical health effects. Discussion Negative COVID-related mental and physical health was widespread. Separation from campus-based resources was detrimental during the early stages of the pandemic.


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