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"People with mental illness should not have to die early"

The Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia encouraged  Australians to sign our on-line petition which will contribute to our advocacy to better inform policy and decision makers about  the national neglect which is causing people with serious mental illness to experience poor physical health during their life and to die early.

People with severe mental illness can, on average, die up to 25 years earlier than the rest of the community.

MIFA wants to expose and highlight the national neglect which is causing people with SMI to experience poor physical health during their life and to die early.

*Diabetes occurs in about 15% of people with schizophrenia. This is three times higher than that of the general population.

*31% of people with schizophrenia and coronary heart disease (CHD) are diagnosed under the age of 55, compared with 18% of others with CHD;

*21% of people with schizophrenia who have a stroke are under 55, compared with 11% of others who have a stroke.

*After five years, 28% of people with respiratory disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder who also have schizophrenia have died, compared with 15% of people with no serious mental health problems.

Found out more at the Physical Health page