{
  "id": 8073056,
  "title": "Why do people with mental illness die younger? Research reveals mental health inequality",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/why-do-people-with-mental-illness-die-younger-research-reveals-mental",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-17T18:20:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-people-mental-illness-die-younger.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study led by The University of Queensland has revealed that people with severe mental illness typically die more than a decade earlier than the general population. Despite some progress in recent years, significant health inequalities persist. Researchers studied hospital mortality data from around 255,000 patients in Queensland over the past 14 years. While overall mortality rates have improved, the gap in life expectancy has not narrowed for those with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. In fact, the mortality rate for these patients has remained stagnant, suggesting that the sickest individuals are not benefiting from enhanced care. Males with mental health disorders experience a 12-year shorter life expectancy compared to the general population, while females face a 10-year shorter lifespan. The study found that preventable physical health conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease, are the primary drivers of excess deaths among those with severe mental illness. Patients often face complex care needs, and medication side effects like weight gain and reduced physical activity can exacerbate physical health issues. The researchers emphasize that addressing physical health alongside mental health could be crucial in narrowing the life expectancy gap for individuals with psychotic disorders. This research, published in Lancet Regional Health—Western Pacific, underscores the ongoing challenge of mental health inequality in Australia.",
  "summary": "People with a severe mental illness die more than 10 years earlier than the general population, research led by The University of Queensland has found.",
  "key_points": [
    "People with severe mental illness die over a decade earlier than general population",
    "Mortality gap for psychotic disorders like schizophrenia remains unchanged",
    "Cardiovascular disease drives excess deaths among severe mental illness patients"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}