Effective policies for patients with mental disorders sought

MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised its member-states on developing and implementing effective policies, strategies and plans for people with severe mental disorders.

WHO said the physical and mental health of people with severe mental disorders could still be improve if given proper intervention. This call was made in line with the celebration of the World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.

WHO said that on the average, people with severe mental disorders tend to die earlier than the general population. “This is referred to as premature mortality. There is a 10- to 25-year life expectancy reduction in patients with severe mental disorders.”

Majority of these deaths are due to chronic physical medical conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory and infectious diseases, diabetes and hypertension. Suicide is another important cause of death.

WHO said the mortality rates among people with schizophrenia is two to 2.5 times higher than the general population.

People with bipolar mood disorder also have higher mortality rates, ranging from 35 percent higher to twice as high as the general population. There is a 1.8 times higher risk of dying associated with depression.

WHO also raised concern that people with severe mental illness do not receive the same quality of physical health care as the general population.

But majority of deaths of patients with severe mental illness that are due to physical medical conditions are preventable with more attentive checks for physical illness, side effects of medicine and suicidal tendencies.