Wellness – being in good physical and mental health – is important for all individuals, including those that suffer from mental illness. Increased early mortality rates of individuals with serious mental illness can often be attributed to physical health related illnesses like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, making measuring physical wellness for this population particularly important.i However, some individuals with mental illness suffer cognitive impairment, further complicating efforts to improve education about and adherence towards treatment that would improve their physical and mental wellness.ii Given the significant effects that cognitive health and wellness play in health care outcomes for individuals with mental illness, PsychU encourages you to browse our specially curated collection below, and to check out our newly launched Wellness Topic Library!
iSubstance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (n.d.) Wellness. Retrieved February 3, 2017 from https://www.samhsa.gov/wellness
iiMental Illness Policy Org (n.d.) Cognitive impairment: A major problem for individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Retrieved February 3, 2017 from http://mentalillnesspolicy.org/medical/cognitive-impairment.html
Music is known to produce in individuals feelings that range from happiness to melancholy. But can music be used as medicine to improve brain health in individuals? During this podcast Linda Maguire, MHS, MA-CBN, BMus, a cognitive and behavioral neuroscientist and internationally renowned professional musician, will describe her cutting edge approach of using music as therapy for Alzheimer’s patients and others with brain disorders.
Listen NowMental Health America suggests connecting with others, staying positive, being physically active, getting enough sleep, eating well, and seeking professional help if needed as key strategies for individuals to improve mental health wellness.
Due to elevated risk factors (like tobacco use), individuals with serious mental illness experience higher risk of early mortality – a significant reason to monitor and track wellness in this population.
Premature death in individuals with serious mental illness can be mostly attributed to preventable medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Among individuals with serious mental illness, 95.4% of deaths were caused by physical health conditions.
The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration has developed a list of eight dimension of wellness, which include: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual wellness.
The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration suggests following a healthy lifestyle to improve wellness. Examples of ways to improve lifestyle include not smoking or using addictive substances, limiting alcohol intake, eating right and exercising, and monitoring vital physical health measurements like weight, blood pressure, and sleep.
Cognitive impairment is not caused my any one disease or conditions. Alzheimer’s Disease, other dementias, conditions such as stroke or traumatic brain injury can also cause cognitive impairment.
Many individuals developing or who have dementia do not receive a diagnosis. One study showed that physicians were unaware of cognitive impairment in more than 40% of their cognitively impaired patients.
In a University of British Columbia study, researchers found that regular aerobic exercise may affect the size of the hippocampus – the area of the brain involved in verbal memory and learning.
According to 2013 data analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 10.6% of adults in the United States have a cognitive disability.