Serious mental disorders linked to higher physical illness mortality

A new study reveals that individuals suffering from severe mental health disorders are significantly more likely to die prematurely from preventable physical illnesses, often dying before age 75 by a margin of 15 to 20 years compared to their peers. The data indicate that the mortality rates from liver diseases, respiratory conditions, heart diseases, and cancer are markedly higher among these individuals, with the risk of death by suicide being 14.6 times greater. The report attributes the elevated death rates to factors such as poverty, inadequate housing, smoking, weight gain, and physical inactivity, as well as the phenomenon of "diagnostic overshadowing," where physical symptoms are incorrectly attributed to depression or anxiety, leading to delays in diagnosing and treating physical illnesses. Experts emphasize the importance of improving mental and physical healthcare interventions and providing regular examinations to reduce these early mortality rates.

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