Shock at early deaths of people with severe mental illness

People in Bath and North East Somerset with severe mental illness are nearly seven times as likely to die prematurely as people with no mental illness, “shocking” figures have shown for the first time.

Data from Public Health England has revealed that in 2015-17, 255 adults in the area with severe mental illness (SMI) died before their 75th birthday. That works out as a rate of 68 premature deaths for every 100,000 people with SMI. It means SMI sufferers are 593 per cent more likely to die prematurely than other people in B&NES, the biggest gap in the country. SMI is defined as having a referral to secondary mental health services in the five years preceding death.

Lucy Schonegevel, deputy associate director of campaigns and policy at Rethink Mental Illness, said: “People who were referred to secondary mental health services within the previous five years were more likely to experience poor physical health than the general population. In significant part this is because they do not get the help they need to prevent and treat physical illness.

“So while many people severely affected by mental illness will live long and happy lives with the right care and support, these figures show that we do need to see a sustained effort by health professionals to ensure that they are treating the full needs of people severely affected by mental illness. This should include the yearly provision of physical health checks.”

PHE said that people with a longstanding mental health problem are twice as likely to smoke, with the highest rates among people with psychosis or bipolar disorder.

Compared with the general population, patients with SMI are at substantially higher risk of obesity, asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease.

Geoff Heyes, head of health policy and influencing at Mind, said: “It’s shocking and concerning to see this data indicating that those of us with mental health problems are more likely to die before age 75 than the general population.

“As part of Equally Well UK, we are urging GPS and others to make sure people have both their mental and physical health treated equally.”

Across England, 100,524 people with SMI died before their 75th birthday in 2015-17 - 91 premature deaths for every 100,000 people suffering with severe mental illness. It means that nationally, people with SMI are more than four times more likely to die prematurely than those who do not have a mental health condition.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Under the NHS Long Term Plan, 370,000 adults with severe mental illnesses a year will get a greater choice and control over their care and more support to live well in their communities backed by an extra £2.3 billion a year to expand and transform mental health services in England by 2023/24.

“This winter, GPS have been asked to identify the most clinically vulnerable people with severe mental illness and offer them comprehensive physical health checks and follow-up interventions, free flu vaccinations if they are eligible, and a care plan review as appropriate.”