Mental Well-Being Intertwined with Physical Health

The United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that adults who report a history of mental illness, serious mental illness, or major depressive episode within the previous year were also more likely than those without mental illness to report a diagnosis of a chronic health condition.  Those with a serious mental illness were more likely to have high blood pressure, asthma, and stroke, and individuals with any of the conditions more frequently visited the emergency department or required hospitalization than individuals without self-reported mental illness. The study authors conclude that: “These results suggest a greater need for (1) screening for and treating these physical conditions among persons with mental illnesses; (2) screening for and treating mental illnesses among persons with these physical conditions; and (3) promoting programs that integrate mental health screening, intervention, and treatment with primary care … into specialty mental healthcare.”