A Wake-Up Call: Prevention of Mental Health Problems Starts at Home 🏠

A recent article in The Lancet highlights the alarming prevalence of multimorbidity among individuals with severe mental illness, underscoring the need for comprehensive care. These are things we already knew but have now been tactfully validated by the good authors of this paper.

But to me… here’s the crux:

Prevention MUST start at home. 🏠

When children are well-connected with their families, they are less likely to fall into the traps of phone addiction, substance abuse, and youth crime.

Some Key Takeaways from The Lancet Article🗝️

• Prevalence of Multimorbidity: People with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder, face higher rates of both physical and psychiatric multimorbidity compared to those without severe mental illness. [Go figure!]
• Impact on Health Outcomes: The presence of multiple chronic conditions significantly worsens health outcomes for individuals with severe mental illness.
• Younger Populations at Higher Risk: Younger individuals with severe mental illness are at a higher risk of physical multimorbidity compared to older populations.
• Need for Comprehensive Care: Addressing both physical and psychiatric conditions is crucial for improving overall health outcomes in this population.

Those of us here have been advocating for this all along: Prevention is what we need to focus our efforts and resources on. Because once these issues become as complicated as that… well… it’s a mess. Good luck fixing that. Prevention is key to addressing mental health issues, and parents, alongside educators, must be the linchpin in this effort. Strong family connections can make a world of difference. It cannot be about treating symptoms anymore; it’s about creating an environment where children feel understood, supported, and valued.

Let’s work together to empower parents and educators to build these vital connections. Because when we invest in prevention, we invest in a healthier, brighter future for our children.

#MentalHealth #Prevention #EmpathicParenting #FamilyConnections #ChildPsychiatry

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00163-9/abstract

It's free to register on the Lancet to download the article. I'll also send it to my subscribers personally if you'd like to sign up.