Media contributions
1Media contributions
Title Closing health gaps for people with mental illness Degree of recognition National Media name/outlet News GP Media type Web Country/Territory Australia Date 19/04/19 Description People with mental health concerns often have worse outcomes in physical health, but a change in the way care is funded and delivered in general practice could help.
It is well-known that people with mental illness are also more likely to have problems with physical health – but many may still be surprised by the grim statistics.
‘If you are depressed, you are 30% more likely to get heart disease and 41% more likely to get diabetes,’ Associate Professor Dr Mark Morgan, Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care, said when speaking at the Equally Well Symposium earlier this year.
‘If you have heart disease or diabetes you are one and a half to two times more likely to be depressed.
‘If you have depression and one or both of these long-term medical conditions, you are more likely to die. One and a half times more likely with depression plus diabetes, and two to three times more likely for patient with heart disease and depression.
‘It is a bigger risk factor than continuing smoking.’Producer/Author Amanda Lyons, RACGP URL https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/closing-health-gaps-for-people-with-mental-illness Persons Mark Morgan