Abstract

People with serious mental illness typically live between 10 and 32 years less than the general population. Around 80% of this higher mortality rate can be attributed to the much higher rates of physical illnesses experienced by this population, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer.

Recognising the devastating human cost, as well as the cost of serious mental illness to the Australian economy in terms of health care, welfare, and lost productivity, this presentation will outline the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) role in advocating for best practice health care for people with mental illness.

All of us in the health sector, including psychiatrists; allied health and other medical professionals; community, mental health and health organisations; can and should advocate for policy and clinical changes to improve the life expectancy of people with serious mental illness.

The RANZCP produced a series of reports examining barriers to health care and the economic costs associated with serious mental illness. Developments since the production of these reports will be highlighted during this presentation, as well as other endeavours where the RANZCP has tried to affect changes in this important area.