MENTAL health experts are calling for an urgent increase in investment for lifestyle interventions to improve care and help close the 15-year life expectancy gap faced by people with mental illness.

Lifestyle interventions addressing physical activity, nutrition, sleep and smoking are “key to mental health care, not optional extras”, according a new Lancet Psychiatry Commission report.

The report, compiled by a team of 30 authors from 19 countries, resulted in eight recommendations and 19 priorities for action.

“Our lifestyles can change the trajectory of our mental and physical health,” said lead author Dr Scott Teasdale, from UNSW Sydney.

“Many people living with mental health challenges face barriers to being physically active, eating a balanced and nutrient-rich diet, getting quality sleep, and quitting smoking,” Dr Teasdale said.

“These, in turn, impact their mental health further and contribute to physical health disparities,” he added.

Making changes to lifestyle risk factors improves symptoms and overall health, making it an important addition to psychological therapy and medication, he explained, but people with mental illness need support to make the changes.

“This is not just about individual behaviour change, it’s about transforming systems to support health and wellbeing,” Dr Teasdale said.

Read the report HERE.

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