Mental Health A Person-centred Approach

Experiencing mental ill-health has long been recognised as being associated with a range of physical conditions that shorten life or impose limitations on physical well-being. Although the causes of this association are uncertain, it is absolutely clear that the experience of enduring mental ill-health in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand will be associated with a shorter life span (Firth et al. 2019; Cunningham, Peterson et al., 2014). The chapter addresses the more commonly experienced co-occurrring physical conditions (also known as comorbidities), looking at the prevalence and specific characteristics of each among those experiencing recurring mental ill-health. The effects of medication on physical health and well-being are explored. Complementary approaches to augmenting well-being are addressed. This includes exercise, diet and stress-reduction strategies as well as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). The final part of the chapter looks at approaches that are useful in preventing, or limiting the effects of co-occurring physical ill-health.