There is often such a shroud of secrecy around mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, and depression that makes it very difficult to provide information and resources to those at the highest risk of death from related and preventable issues. While we hear about the risk factors associated with cancer and heart disease in television and print media, and from friends and family directly and through social media, there are very few conversations about the risk factors of death for people with mental illnesses.
According to a report published by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council: “there are a number [of factors] that place people with [serious mental illness] at higher risk of morbidity and mortality, including:
- Smoking
- Alcohol Consumption
- Poor Nutrition / obesity
- Lack of exercise
- “Unsafe” sexual behavior
- IV drug use
- Residence in group facilities and homeless shelters (exposure to infectious diseases and less opportunity to modify individual nutritional practices)*”
Stay tuned for a series of articles on our blog related to each of the above factors by subscribing to our email newsletter or joining our Facebook community.
Today’s post is focused on the role that smoking plays in the preventable early death rates of those suffering from mental illnesses.
According to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, people with a serious mental illness are about twice as likely to smoke as the general population. The effects of this can be disastrous, as those with mental illness who use tobacco products would then be at an increased risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and related illnesses. As this population is also more likely to live in situations where they may not be receiving appropriate medical care, these illnesses may be left untreated or undiagnosed, and can lead to early, and preventable, death.
Reasons why those with mental illness are more likely to smoke cigarettes:
- There is evidence that people with schizophrenia or depression may find cigarettes more appealing than the general population, and that they may be more vulnerable to advertising for tobacco products.**
- People suffering from mental illnesses may be living in homeless shelters or group homes, where tobacco use is more commonly accepted than in the general population.
- They may be receiving treatment for either their mental illness or substance use disorder in a program that leans on tobacco use as a ‘lesser evil’ alternative; as many programs continue to do so.
- They may be frustrated, discouraged, or have lost interest in their overall health and wellbeing; and not concerned with the long-term effects of tobacco use.
At our residential treatment programs for dual disorders, we encourage a whole-life approach to wellness and recovery. As tobacco use is one of the highest-priority wellness issues facing our participants, we have chosen to go smoke-free on our Florida campus, and we offer a smoking cessation program to help participants quit or curb their smoking at all locations.
For more information on the preventable causes of death for those with mental disorders, and resources for combatting each of these, stay tuned for future blog posts on these topics. You can subscribe to our email newsletter to be notified of future articles.
*Source: NASMHPD report http://www.nasmhpd.org/docs/publications/MDCdocs/Mortality%20and%20Morbidity%20Final%20Report%208.18.08.pdf **Source: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment report: http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/14/3/217.fullShare your thoughts or comments below and visit us on Facebook!
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