Health matters: reducing health inequalities in mental illness
Actions that local areas can take to reduce health inequalities experienced by people living with mental illness.
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Mental health problems can affect anyone and have a significant effect on the lives of individuals, their families, communities and wider society. One in six adults have had a common mental health disorder, such as anxiety, in the last week, according to survey data. Three quarters of mental health problems are established by the age of 24. Recent data indicates that there are close to 551,000 people in England with more severe mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
This edition of Health matters brings together in one place the most informative data and the best evidence of what works in removing health inequalities experienced by people living with mental illness. It focuses on some of the actions that local areas can take to reduce these health inequalities, so that people with mental illness can achieve the same health outcomes and life expectancy as the rest of the population.
It is aimed at health and care professionals, local commissioners and system partners, including the community and voluntary sector. The focus is on adults and those with more severe and enduring mental illness, but many of the actions will be of benefit to all people experiencing mental illness.