Authors names

Dr Denise Riordan, Rebecca Reay, Julie Grant

Affiliations

Canberra Health Services, Australian National University

Introduction

Individuals living with serious mental illness (SMI) experience significantly higher rates of comorbid physical health conditions compared to the general population. Early detection and effective interventions are needed to improve the management of their comorbid physical conditions. Mental Health clinicians can help inform services about ways to improve the early detection, intervention and care coordination of our clients.

Method

A structured questionnaire was developed by the research team, informed by existing literature on physical and mental health comorbidities in mental health settings. The survey consisted of 14 items related to clinicians’ perceptions, practices and awareness of physical health issues in hospital and community settings.

Results & findings

A total of 201 clinicians completed the survey (completion rate = 75%). Routine screening rates were high for alcohol use (92%), substance use (93%), smoking (88%), but lower for nutrition (76%), physical activity (69%) and sexual health issues (41%). Clinicians strongly advocated for enhanced physical health screening, better mobilisation of current resources, dedicated physical health specialists within teams, and greater access to free or low-cost community-based programs. There was a loud call for embedding general practitioners and practice nurses within the service, as well as access to bulk-billing GPs and practice nurses. A significant proportion (76%) expressed interest in further training related to physical
health care.

Discussion

Documenting clinicians’ perceptions, current practices, and perceived barriers provides important data to inform the design of integrated care models that embed physical health promotion within routine mental health services. The outcomes not only inform internal service improvements but also offer insights for other mental health providers seeking to enhance the physical health outcomes of their clients. These findings reinforce the urgent need for integrated, collaborative models of care that can more effectively address the physical health inequities experienced by people living with serious mental illness.