We all need to look after our health, but it is especially important for people living with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar, psychosis or severe depression, as they can be at higher risk of serious illnesses.
GP practices offer annual physical health checks to patients living with severe mental illness. These health checks provide valuable time with a healthcare professional to review any health issues, medications and lifestyle habits, and to take important blood tests and readings to identify health risks. These health checks help to prevent, detect, and manage many common physical health problems and support the patient to be healthier.
However, not all patients come forward to take up their annual health check when it’s offered. Working with local Essex residents who live with severe mental illness, NHS Mid and South Essex has developed a new patient-friendly resource to help patients understand the importance of the regular health checks and encourage them to attend.
People with lived experience of severe mental illness and their carers were invited to co-produce an Easy Read information leaflet that provides some of the key information that would encourage a patient to attend their health check.
The co-production work helped to ensure the lived experiences and thoughts of patients were included in the guide. Their insight was vital in helping identify barriers, and making it more effective, relevant, and responsive to the needs of patients with severe mental illness.
Rosie from Essex was a member of the co-production panel. She said:
I was excited to take part and help to develop this guide because it can help other people living with severe mental illnesses. I know what questions I wanted answered about the health checks and if I have these questions, I think other people with severe mental illness might too. So hopefully I’ve helped to make this guide more helpful for others and encourage them to get their health check.”
Dr Reg Rehal, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in south east Essex and a Clinical Lead for NHS Mid and South Essex, said:
As a clinician I really welcome the development of this guide to support more patients to come forward and take up their annual health check. Being involved in the development of this guide has been a really insightful process and I want to extend my thanks to those on the panel who provided their experience and insight to make this guide a relevant and useful resource for patients with severe mental illness, their families and carers.
“I would also like to give special thanks to all the colleagues at NHS Mid and South Essex and other system colleagues who showed such dedication and collaboration in developing this resource to support our patients and GP practices. I sincerely hope this guide improves the health of our patients living with severe mental illness.”
Download the guide