Gone too soon: priorities for action to prevent premature mortality associated with mental illness and mental distress

O'Connor, R. C. et al. (2023) Gone too soon: priorities for action to prevent premature mortality associated with mental illness and mental distress. Lancet Psychiatry, 10(6), pp. 452-464. (doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00058-5) (PMID:37182526)

Abstract

Globally, too many people die prematurely from suicide and the physical comorbidities associated with mental illness and mental distress. The purpose of this Review is to mobilise the translation of evidence into prioritised actions that reduce this inequity. The mental health research charity, MQ Mental Health Research, convened an international panel that used roadmapping methods and review evidence to identify key factors, mechanisms, and solutions for premature mortality across the social–ecological system. We identified 12 key overarching risk factors and mechanisms, with more commonalities than differences across the suicide and physical comorbidities domains. We also identified 18 actionable solutions across three organising principles: the integration of mental and physical health care; the prioritisation of prevention while strengthening treatment; and the optimisation of intervention synergies across social–ecological levels and the intervention cycle. These solutions included accessible, integrated high-quality primary care; early life, workplace, and community-based interventions co-designed by the people they should serve; decriminalisation of suicide and restriction of access to lethal means; stigma reduction; reduction of income, gender, and racial inequality; and increased investment. The time to act is now, to rebuild health-care systems, leverage changes in funding landscapes, and address the effects of stigma, discrimination, marginalisation, gender violence, and victimisation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: MQ Mental Health Research and The William Templeton Foundation for Young People’s Mental Health co-funded the road mapping exercise.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: O'Connor, Professor Rory
• Authors: O'Connor, R. C., Worthman, C. M., Abanga, M., Athanassopoulou, N., Boyce, N., Chan, L. F., Christensen, H., Das-Munshi, J., Downs, J., Koenen, K. C., Moutier, C. Y., Templeton, P., Batterham, P., Brakspear, K., Frank, R. G., Gilbody, S., Gureje, O., Henderson, D., John, A., Kabagambe, W., Khan, M., Kessler, D., Kirtley, O. J., Kline, S., Kohrt, B., Lincoln, A. K., Lund, C., Mendenhall, E., Miranda, R., Mondelli, V., Niederkrotenthaler, T., Osborn, D., Pirkis, J., Pisani, A. R., Prawira, B., Rachidi, H., Seedat, S., Siskind, D., Vijayakumar, L., and Yip, P. S.F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Lancet Psychiatry
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2215-0366
• ISSN (Online): 2215-0374
• Published Online: 11 May 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Lancet Psychiatry 10(6): 452-464
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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