The Role of Social Workers in Improving the Physical Health of People Who Use Mental Health Services

ABSTRACT

This paper highlights some key actions social workers can take to help improve the physical health of people living with mental illness. Despite an 80% comorbidity rate, many people living with mental illness still do not receive a physical health check-up. For this and other reasons, people living with mental illness die, on average, 10–20 years prematurely. This early death is usually preceded by years or decades of poor health. Using a collective impact approach, this paper discusses actions to increase autonomy, advocate for better access to quality physical health care, and minimise iatrogenic harm for people living with mental illness.

IMPLICATIONS

• This paper highlights the key opportunities for social workers to improve the physical health of people living with mental illness.

• Using a collective impact approach, it highlights the vital role social workers can play in enacting the essential elements of the Equally Well national consensus statement, such as advocating equity of access to physical health care services, supporting quality care, and reducing stigma and discrimination for people living with mental illness.

本文介绍了一些关键性活动，社会工作者可以籍以改善精神疾患者的身体健康。尽管合并症发生率达到80%，许多精神疾患者都不接受身体健康检查。由于这个以及其他原因，该人群平均早死10至20年，死前往往有几年或几十年的健康不佳史。本文采用集体影响研究，探讨了精神疾患者增加自主性、获得优质健康照料的渠道、减少医源性伤害的一些做法。

KEYWORDS:

• Physical Health
• Mental Illness
• Social Work
• Advocacy
• Collective Action

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Mental Health Commission.