Wellness Initiative

The early mortality rates of people with serious mental illness, up to 25 years lost, have recently received much needed attention. This disparity in life expectancy is unacceptable. People with a serious mental illness deserve to live long and healthy lives like other American's. Increased morbidity and mortality rates are largely due to treatable medical conditions caused by modifiable factors such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and inadequate access to health care. There is a need to implement standards of health care for prevention, screening and treatment in the context of better access to health care; to promote opportunities for health care providers, including peer specialists, to teach healthy lifestyles; and to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices as a standard in all behavioral programs.

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is committed to creating healthier Oklahoma communities, and is currently engaging in planning and implementation activities to further wellness efforts. 

Considerations:

• • Family and peer support groups should provide materials and information to support healthy lifestyle choices.
  • Peer specialists can aid in the training process by working with recipients of behavioral health care services.
  • Develop and implement evidence best practice tool kits regarding nutrition, diet, exercise, smoking cessation.
  • Coordination with primary care physicians will play an integral role in this initiative and will be accomplished by developing agreements between behavioral health care providers and health clinics such as Community Health Centers.

Useful Links:

• Oklahoma Health Home Learning Collaborative

Contact:
Chris Flanagan
Director of Advocacy and Wellness
405-522-4148