Adults with severe mental illness die 15 to 20 years earlier from diseases such as cancer

A recent study reveals that adults with severe mental illness are prone to die 15-20 years earlier than the general population, primarily due to preventable physical ailments. According to research by the Rethink Mental Illness charity, those with severe mental health issues - defined as those referred to specialist secondary mental health services - are six times more likely to succumb to liver disease, five times more likely to die from respiratory illness, three-and-a-half times more likely to perish from cardiovascular disease, and twice as likely to pass away from cancer.

Suicide claims 14.6 times more lives than among the general public. Overall, these individuals are four-and-a-half times more likely to die before reaching 75 years old.

Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death among working-age adults with severe mental illness, each claiming over 24,000 lives in the 2022-2024 reporting period. These conditions contribute to more than half (56.5%) of all deaths for those aged 18 to 74 with severe mental health problems in England. Liver disease accounts for 8% of deaths, respiratory disease for 11%, and suicide for 7%.

The report highlights several factors contributing to this disparity, such as poverty, poor housing, increased smoking rates, weight gain from medication, physical inactivity, and fragmented care. However, the authors attribute a significant portion of early deaths to "diagnostic overshadowing," where physical symptoms are wrongly attributed to mental illness, leading to inadequate investigation and treatment of potential health issues.

The findings precede the government's independent review of mental health, autism, and ADHD, which is expected to recommend a more comprehensive approach to supporting these conditions.

Mark Winstanley, Rethink Mental Illness' chief executive, decries the situation as a "scandal," emphasizing that many individuals with severe mental health problems frequently interact with healthcare services. He calls for early detection and treatment of physical health problems, highlighting that these premature deaths are far from inevitable.

Prof Subodh Dave, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, echoes this sentiment, stating that having a severe mental illness should not be an early death sentence. He emphasizes the need for evidence-based solutions like smoking cessation and routine physical health checks, while stressing the lack of concerted action to prevent these premature deaths.

The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledges the stark health inequalities faced by those with severe mental illness and announces immediate actions to improve services. These include developing a modern service framework, opening 100 new community mental health centers, and integrating a mental health strategy to build a more responsive and supportive system.