Physical health for people with mental illness

Having a mental illness can make it more challenging to stay physically healthy.

Some of the reasons for this are:

• the symptoms of a mental illness can make it harder to exercise, eat well or give up smoking
• certain medications can have side effects that cause physical health problems
• health professionals sometimes focus on a person's mental health, rather than their physical health
• genetic risk factors (certain genes can make it more likely that a person goes on to develop mental illness. These same genes may also play a part in physical health issues).

There are some things you can do to give yourself the best chance of staying physically well.

Helping yourself

Know what to look out for

People living with a serious mental illness (for example schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression) are more likely to have:

• weight problems
• high blood pressure
• heart problems
• problems with teeth and gums
• drug and alcohol issues
• other long-term health conditions, such as diabetes and asthma.

If you know what the risks are, you and your health-care team can work together to help you stay as healthy as possible.

Make some small changes

Changing just one thing can start to improve your physical health.

Try to:

• replace sugary drinks with plain water
• walk when you might normally drive or catch public transport
• join a quit smoking program
• eat regular meals
• make use of the time when you feel good to cook meals.

Get regular physical health checks

Ask your GP (family doctor) or psychiatrist for a physical health check if you haven’t had one in a while. You should have a physical health check at least once a year.

At a health check your doctor may:

• ask about your medical history
• ask about your lifestyle (for example, if you smoke or how much exercise you do)
• measure your weight
• check your blood pressure
• ask about alcohol, smoking and drug use
• order blood tests for cholesterol or blood sugar levels
• recommend or provide screening tests (for example a Pap smear or bowel cancer test).

Get some exercise

Being active is important for staying physically healthy. People often find that exercise can improve their mental health symptoms.

Find a sport or activity that works for you, and start slowly.

If you already attend a mental health support group, ask for ideas or support to get your own exercise group together.

Eat well

Eating well is important for your energy, health and mood.

Eating well means:

• eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and legumes (beans, peas, lentils etc.)
• choosing wholemeal bread, rice and pasta
• cutting down on sugary drinks and food containing lots of fat, sugar and salt
• drinking plenty of water
• limiting alcohol.

Look after your teeth and gums

To make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy:

• ask your doctor about how smoking and cola drinks can damage teeth and gums
• ask if your medication can affect your teeth

• brush your teeth twice a day
• replace sugary drinks with plain water
• have a check up with a dentist once a year.

Ask about the benefits and risks of your medication

Talk to your GP or psychiatrist about the benefits and risks of the medications you take.

Some medications have side effects, such as weight gain or making you feel unmotivated. Antipsychotics can affect blood sugar levels, cholesterol and weight.

Ask if it’s possible to change medications or adjust your dose to reduce any effects on your physical health.

Helping someone with their physical health

If you are a family member, friend or carer of someone with mental illness, there are a number of ways you can help them to improve their physical health.

Set goals together

Help the person you are looking after to choose 1-3 simple and acheiveable goals for their physical health.

For example:

• walk for 20 minutes each evening
• on Sundays, make a meal plan for the week
• drink plain water with meals.

Be a good example

As a family member or friend, your own actions can influence the person you’re looking after.

Think about:

• cutting back on your own alcohol or tobacco use
• cooking healthy food together
• drawing up a shared daily timetable for shopping, cooking and eating.

Work with the health-care team

It’s important that people feel comfortable with the professionals working with them.

You can help by:

• offering to go to the doctor or health professional with them

• encouraging the person to speak openly about their own needs
• reminding the person to mention their physical health at appointments
• helping them to make a list of questions to ask
• if needed, ask about an interpreter, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health worker, or Māori health worker.