A large new study published in Nature Mental Health shows that people with mental health conditions face substantially higher risks of many kinds of physical injury. The research, led by Leah Richmond-Rakerd, used administrative data covering nearly 5 million individuals in Norway and New Zealand and was supported by US federal funding. Mental health diagnoses came from primary care and inpatient records; injuries were identified from primary care files, hospital records and injury insurance claims. Follow-up periods ranged from 14 to 30 years.
Findings include elevated risks of subsequent self-harm and of injuries resulting from assault, plus significantly increased risks of unintentional injuries such as falls and traffic accidents. Associations appeared across a range of mental health conditions and injury types, and were particularly strong for injuries to the brain and head. The researchers report that these increased risks could not be explained by prior injuries or by socioeconomic background.
Authors urge more integrated health care and public health action. Suggested measures include better psychoeducation about injury risk within mental health treatment, identifying intervention opportunities during acute-care contacts including mental health hospital admissions, and enhanced public health surveillance to track and prevent injuries among people with mental health conditions.
- Publishers: Nature Mental Health
- Funders include US federal institutes
- Coauthors from several international universities
Difficult words
- substantially — to a large or significant degree
- administrative data — official records collected by organisations or agencies
- inpatient — medical care given when a patient stays overnight
- self-harm — deliberate injury a person causes to themselves
- unintentional — not planned or done on purpose
- psychoeducation — teaching patients about mental health and risks
- surveillance — systematic tracking of health problems over time
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What specific changes in clinical care could reduce injury risk for people with mental health conditions? Give reasons.
- How could public health surveillance be improved to better track and prevent injuries in this population?
- What practical challenges might health systems face when trying to provide more integrated care and interventions described in the article?
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