Access and intervention

This section of the guideline explains the disparity of services and interventions accessed or received by people with lived experience compared to the general population..

Health screening alone, is not sufficient to improve physical health outcomes and reduce excess mortalities. All identified cardiometabolic and behavioural risk factors should be treated with evidence based interventions which can lead to significant improvements in physical and mental health outcomes..

Referral pathways and networks that provide a range of options for assessment, treatment and care will lead to improved access to care. Services should be flexible, appropriate and tailored to a person’s preferences and needs.

Areas of action:.

• ‘Don’t just screen, intervene’
• Provide timely access to appropriate, well planned and coordinated physical health care.

This page provides resources to support physcial health screening and assessment.

Resources

1. Cardiometabolic
2. Evidence papers
3. Referral pathways

Cardiometabolic

Evidence papers

A meta-review of “lifestyle psychiatry”: the role of exercise, smoking, diet and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders

A systematic review of the top-tier evidence examining how physical activity, sleep, dietary patterns and tobacco smoking impact the risk and treatment outcomes across a range of mental health diagnoses.
Publication type: Journal article
Published by: Firth et al

Collection of published articles on physical health by a consumer researcher

Collection of published articles by consumer researcher Stephanie Ewart with a foucs on phusical health for consumers.
Publication type: Journal articles
Published by: Stephanie Ewart, et al

Delivery of physical health care for people in community-based mental health

This links to an evidence brief on ‘How can community organisations best deliver physical health care for people living with mental health issues’.
Publication type: Evidence Brief
Produced by: Sax Institute

Initiatives to improve physical health for people in community-based mental health

This links to an evidence check on initiatives to improve physical health for people in community-based mental health.
Publication type: Evidence Check
Produced by: Sax Institute

The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: A blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness

A summary of the advances in understanding on the topic of physical health and clear directions for health promotion, clinical care and future research.
Publication type: Journal article
Published by: Firth et al

The Lancet Psychiatry series: Diabetes and psychotic disorders

This series summarises the latest evidence in epidemiology and pathophysiology, and provides practical suggestions to help patients manage both diabetes and psychotic illness.
Publication type: Evidence papers
Published by: The Lancet Psychiatry, various contributors

Referral pathways