The world-first project will test a model that positions carers as 'care navigators' to help address poor life expectancy rates and serious workforce shortages.
People with mental illness are almost three times more likely to die prematurely, compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Underdiagnosed and untreated chronic health conditions, such as cancer and heart disease, can reduce their life expectancy by 13-20 years.
This research project seeks to tackle both the mental and physical needs of individuals for the first time. It involves 25 researchers from nine Australian universities in a unique collaboration between Equally Well Australia and Manna Institute, a virtual institute working to improve mental health and wellbeing in rural, regional and remote Australia.
Equally Well Australia National Director and Lead Researcher Professor Russell Roberts said engaging people with a lived experience of mental illness promises a two-fold benefit.
"People with mental illness also frequently have difficulty accessing appropriate physical health care services," he said. "This research will support the Equally Well mission of preventing premature deaths due to largely preventable physical conditions. In addition, it aims to support the existing rural mental health workforce, which must adopt a different model of care than in metropolitan areas due to workforce shortages and limited access to targeted services."
Manna Institute Director, Professor Myfanwy Maple from the University of New England, said the research is vitally important to those living with mental illness in regional communities. "Services are difficult to access, and when services are stretched the focus of an appointment becomes the person's mental health needs, neglecting their physical health needs," she said. "This leads to treatable illnesses and diseases becoming chronic and shortening people's lives.
"Manna brings researchers from across the Regional Universities Network together with industry partners to design projects with and led by people with lived experience. This research is a fantastic example of how, by working together, we can develop solutions to complex challenges that impact the health and wellbeing of regional Australians."
By investigating the supportive role played by informal caregivers and peer workers, researchers develop additional pathways for people with mental illness. "Peer workers are really important in having a unique insight into the lived experience of mental ill-health and can help advocate for others who may not be able to navigate complex health systems on their own," Professor Roberts said. "This will take some pressure off our already stretched mental health and physical health carers."
Improving the poor physical health and reduced life expectancy of people living with mental illness is a priority of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, a key recommendation of the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health and an action of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
