Losing to Gain: The Effects of a Healthy Lifestyle Intervention on the Physical and Psychosocial Well-being of Clients in a Community-based Mental Health Setting

Individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) encounter both poorer physical health and psychosocial well-being in comparison to the general population. Obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes can result from the symptoms of mental illness, the side effects from psychotropi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Community mental health journal 2019-05, Vol.55 (4), p.608-614
Main Authors: Mechling, Brandy M., Arms, Tamatha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Anxiety-Depression
Blood pressure
Brief Report
Cardiovascular diseases
Community and Environmental Psychology
Community mental health services
Community services
Community-based programs
Diabetes
Empowerment
Exercise
Health disparities
Health problems
Health services
Health status
Hypertension
Insight
Intervention
Lifestyles
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mental depression
Mental disorders
Mental health
Mental health care
Nurses
Nutrition
Obesity
Physical fitness
Psychiatric nurses
Psychiatry
Psychosocial factors
Psychosocial well being
Psychotropic drugs
Self-efficacy
Side effects
Symptoms
Well being
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Summary:Individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) encounter both poorer physical health and psychosocial well-being in comparison to the general population. Obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes can result from the symptoms of mental illness, the side effects from psychotropic medications, as well as disparities associated with being mentally ill. Mental health nurses are in a prime position to implement healthy lifestyle interventions (HLIs). This study tested a HLI (physical exercise and nutrition) and examined the effects on physical and psychosocial outcomes in clients obtaining mental health services at a community-based facility. Key findings included a decrease in anxiety and depressive symptoms at 3 months and consistent improvement in self-efficacy for exercise in the intervention group. Bridges and barriers to achieving optimal results in physical and psychosocial well-being were identified. Findings from this study offer insight into designing and executing more effective HLIs with individuals who have SPMI.
ISSN:0010-3853
1573-2789
DOI:10.1007/s10597-019-00371-2