Centre for Mental Health

Associations between mental and physical ill health

There is a strong association between mental and physical ill health. People with long-term conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, have significantly raised rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems, referred to as co-morbidity. Evidence suggests that many of these people receive poorer quality care than those with a single condition.

The cost to the health system and to wider society of mental health problems among people with physical illnesses is considerable. By developing a more integrated response to patients' multiple needs, there is scope to both reduce costs and improve care.

Centre for Mental Health is working with partners The Kings's Fund and the London School of Economics to review research evidence on the extent of these co-morbidities, their impact on the quality and cost of care and the ways in which people with both a long-term condition and a mental health problem could be better supported.

A conference, 'The role of mental health services in improving care for long-term conditions, was held at the King's Fund on 22 September. Presentations and information about the key sessions feature on the Kings Fund website.

The Mental Elf

A team from Oxford University have launched a new mental health website, The Mental Elf, that helps health and social care professionals keep up to date with all of the latest research and guidance.

Investigating physical health inequalities

The Disability Rights Commission published their report into the physical health of people with mental health problems in September 2006. A Centre research team contributed a large amount of work and information to the final report. Our contribution is below.

Download our contribution to DRC report (Word, 2.4 MB)

The Commission followed the report with a review of progress one year on. It includes further recommendations for improvements in the care of people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. You can download it below.

Download Equal Treatment One Year On (192 KB)