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Mental Illness: Early Deaths Scandal
20 Sep
Summary
- Adults with severe mental illness die 15-20 years earlier than peers.
- Preventable physical conditions cause most early deaths.
- Suicide risk is 14.6 times higher for those with severe mental illness.
People living with severe mental illness are nearly five times more likely to die from serious physical diseases before the age of 75, new NHS data reveals. Analysis by Rethink Mental Illness shows these individuals die 15-20 years earlier, primarily from preventable physical conditions.
Adults under 75 with severe mental health problems are significantly more likely to die from liver disease (6.3 times), respiratory illness (6 times), cardiovascular disease (3.8 times), and cancer (2.3 times). Suicide risk is also drastically higher, at 14.6 times that of the general population, contributing to an overall 4.8 times greater likelihood of premature death.
Factors contributing to these stark health inequalities include poverty, poor housing, higher smoking rates, and medication side effects. "Diagnostic overshadowing," where physical symptoms are dismissed as mental illness, also hinders timely treatment. Health leaders are calling for urgent action, including regular physical health checks and improved access to integrated care.
The government acknowledges these inequalities and is developing a new service framework for severe mental illness. This includes plans to open 100 new community mental health centers and a strategy to build a more integrated system that responds earlier and reduces waiting times.
