Improving the physical health of people with mental health ...

1 Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems:Actions for mental health nursesEnglandYou may re-use the text of this document (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit Crown copyright Published to , in PDF format only. : Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems: Actions for mental health nursesAuthor: Nursing, Midwifery and Allied health Professions Policy Unit, Quality Division, Strategy and External Relations Directorate 32400 Document purpose: PolicyPublication date: May 2016 Target audience: Registered mental health nurses; Directors of mental health nursing; Staff working in mental health and social care services; Lecturers and those who deliver professional training.

2 Contact details: Dr Ben Thomas mental health , Learning Disability and Dementia Care Professional Officer Nursing, Midwifery and Allied health Professions Policy Unit Strategy and External Relations Directorate Department of health 79 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS Email: NHS England Publications Gateway Reference 046033 Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems: Actions for mental health nursesContentsForeword 5 Improving physical health and wellbeing .. a new resource 6A holistic approach to physical and mental healthA commitment to actionImproving outcomes for people living with mental health problems 10 Metabolic syndrome and people with mental health problems 12 Cardiovascular diseaseDiabetesRegular physical health checksHealth screeningTaking action: the role of mental health nurses 14 Working in partnershipKnowledge and skillsRightCare progammeCare planning1.

3 Action on .. Support to quit smoking 182. Action on .. Tackling obesity 223. Action on .. Improving physical activity levels 264. Action on .. Reducing alcohol and substance use 305. Action on .. Sexual and reproductive health 346. Action on .. Medicine optimisation 387. Action on .. Dental and oral health 428. Action on .. Reducing falls 46 Appendix 1 Assessment tools 501. The Lester tool2. Integrated physical health Pathway3. NHS Screening4. physical Activity Benefits for Adults and Older AdultsAppendix 2 References 564 Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems: Actions for mental health nursesAcknowledgements The Department of health would like to thank the many stakeholders who contributed their expertise and time to this particular thanks go to colleagues at.

4 Central and North West London NHS Foundation TrustCity University LondonHealth Education EnglandLondon South Bank University South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustEndorsements This resource is supported by the following organisations:British Heart FoundationQueen s Nursing InstituteRoyal College of NursingRoyal Pharmaceutical SocietyUNITE - mental health Nurses Association5 Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems: Actions for mental health nursesForewordThe Five Year Forward View for mental health (2016) has once again highlighted that people with mental health problems have poorer physical health than the general population, often they are unable to access the physical healthcare they need and experience unnecessary health with severe mental illness are particularly at risk and die on average 15-20 years earlier than the general population.

5 Being in contact with mental health services does not necessarily mean that people will have a physical health assessment, have their physical health monitored, or receive the information and support they need to adopt a healthier health nurses have unparalleled opportunities to help people improve their physical health alongside their mental health , both in inpatient settings and in the community. Building on their skills and knowledge this resource will assist mental health nurses to identify the key risk factors that are known to adversely affect the physical health of people with mental health problems.

6 By following the activities to achieve change, and learning from the good practice examples in this resource, they can build up their confidence and expertise and make improvements to people s health Government is committed to putting healthcare for people with mental health problems, including people with co-existing learning disabilities, on an equal footing with people with physical problems. This means reducing unwarranted variation, so that individuals are supported to live healthy lives, and are empowered to make real progress towards bringing their life expectancy in line with the rest of the England has agreed that by 2020/21 at least 280,000 more people living with severe mental health problems should have their physical health needs met.

7 mental health nurses are crucial to making these improvements, and to the Government s goal of parity of esteem. Nurses must capitalise on the opportunities they have and make sure that people with whom they have the most contact have their physical health needs met by early detection and access to evidence based care and resource is a significant step forward encouraging mental health nurses to take an active role to ensure people s physical health needs are assessed and responded to. Drawing on the available evidence it will improve the monitoring of and reduction of the risk factors that have a detrimental effect on people s physical health and ultimately reduce health BurtMinister of State for Community and Social CareDepartment of Health6 Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems: Actions for mental health nursesImproving physical health and wellbeing.

8 A new resourceThis resource is for mental health nurses, wherever they work, to take positive action to improve the physical health of people living with mental health problems. It builds on work to ensure parity of esteem between mental and physical health by giving equal attention to the physical health of people with mental health problems as is given to the general population. people with mental health problems should be supported to live healthy lives, and should be empowered to make real progress towards bringing their life expectancy in line with the rest of the resource supports the Government s commitment to ensure that people living with mental health problems have the same access to health checks and healthcare as the general population.

9 It provides evidence based information about ways in which mental health nurses can improve the physical health and wellbeing of people living with mental health problems by tackling some of the key risk factors for physical health problems. It complements other programmes of work underway to address the physical health needs of people with mental health problems within health Education England (HEE), NHS England, Public health England (PHE), Royal Colleges of Nursing, Midwifery, Physicians, Psychiatrists and Pharmacology and within national this resource focuses primarily on adults with mental health problems including common mental illnesses, severe mental illness (SMI)

10 And personality disorder, it is important to recognise that over half of all mental ill health starts before the age of 14 and 75% (excluding dementia) develops by the age of 181. Children with mental health problems are at greater risk of physical health problems, just like adults they are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and tak