Abstract

Author(s):

Katie Stewart, Courtnee Dewhurst and Michael Phillips

Affiliations:

Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research, Perth
Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth
Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia

Of the four million people in Australia currently living with a diagnosed mental illness 59.8% have a chronic physical health condition including, but not limited to, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, back pain, cancer & type 2 diabetes. They can also expect to live ten years less than the national average (14 years less if they live in Western Australia). One of the most telling statistics is the reality that 54% don’t seek treatment.

By using a clinically proven, evidence-based exercise medicine intervention to treat, manage and prevent mental illness at a primary care level, along-side chronic conditions. We offer the patient, medical system and government health funding agencies a fiscally viable & clinically effective primary health care solution to the current combined mental health and chronic disease crisis.

The efficiencies of combining health promotion, prevention and treatment of mental and physical chronic illness in combination at a primary care level supported by GP and specialist referral offers a natural extension to the already approved government health care homes project.

A repeatable clinically based exercise medicine intervention has just been validated in a three year efficacy and compliance study with the guidance and support of the chief Scientist of Western Australia in Perth, WA. We hope to present this research paper for the first time at the Equally well national symposium.

A secondary impact study is in planning with private and public health stakeholders to develop the concept into a model able to be rolled out nationally.

The opportunity to present and share this research at the Equally Well symposium will assist in this process and enable us to translate this simple research into practice all Australians with mental illness can benefit from.