Mental Illness Tied to Higher Rates of Physical Ailments

Last Friday, SAMHSA posted a report which showed that adults with a mental illness are more likely to have certain chronic physical health problems compared to those with a mental illness.  Here is a quick rundown of the numbers:

• High blood pressure: 24 percent vs. 20 percent
• Asthma: 17 percent vs. 11 percent
• Diabetes: 9 percent vs. 7 percent
• Heart disease: 7 percent vs. 5 percent
• Stroke: 3 percent vs. 1 percent

The use of the emergency department, as well as hospitalization rates were also higher, 48 percent vs. 31 percent and 20 percent vs. less than 12 percent respectively. 

"Behavioral health is essential to health. This is a key SAMHSA message and is underscored by this data," SAMHSA administrator Pamela Hyde said in an agency news release.  "Promoting health and wellness for individuals, families and communities means treating behavioral health needs with the same commitment and vigor as any other physical health condition," Hyde said. "Communities, families and individuals cannot achieve health without addressing behavioral health."