Health and Wellness in People Living With Serious Mental Illness: A Comprehensive Guide

People with serious mental illness face a daunting reality: they are likely to die 10-20 years earlier than their same-age peers. The social determinants driving this health crisis are multifaceted, including stigma associated with mental illness, poverty, ethnicity-based discrimination, and poor lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol and drug use, and poor diet and exercise patterns.

To combat these health challenges, multiple interventions have emerged, but further research is necessary to develop and evaluate effective strategies. This book, “Health and Wellness in People Living With Serious Mental Illness,” provides a comprehensive guide to tackling this issue.

The Challenge of Health and Wellness in Mental Illness

Through real-life case vignettes, this book delves into the complexities of health and wellness for people with mental illness, summarizing the research on mortality and morbidity in this group, as well as the current state of wellness initiatives.

Community-Based Participatory Research: A Collaborative Approach

The book highlights the importance of community-based participatory research (CBPR), an approach that empowers people with mental illness as partners in all aspects of research, rather than just subjects. This collaborative approach informs the development of solutions, including integrated services, patient-centered medical homes, medical practices that minimize iatrogenic effects, psychoeducation, interpersonal supports, and shared decision-making.

A Grounded, Real-World Approach

Co-edited by Patrick Corrigan, a renowned expert in services research, and Sonya Ballentine, a community-based member of a CBPR team, this volume offers a nuanced and practical illustration of CBPR in action.

Who Will Benefit from This Book?

Students of psychiatry, practicing clinicians, primary care providers, allied health professionals, and policymakers will find a wealth of information in this book, including:

• A comprehensive portrait of the health challenges faced by people with mental illness
• Possible treatment options and future directions for the field

This book is an essential resource for anyone committed to improving the health and wellness of people living with serious mental illness.