Building the capacity of community mental health services to provide preventive care to people with a mental health condition will be the focus of a three-year project led by researchers at the University of Newcastle.

Building the capacity of community mental health services to provide preventive care to people with a mental health condition will be the focus of a three-year project led by researchers at the University of Newcastle. 

Led by Professor Jennifer Bowman from the University’s School of Psychology, the research team brings together research expertise from across the University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, the University of Melbourne and Flinders University. 

The team has been awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant of more than $1.3 million. The project will involve collaboration with mental health services in three NSW Local Health Districts: Central Coast, Hunter New England and Mid North Coast.

People with a mental health condition die between 10 to 15 years earlier than the general Australian population, largely Professor Bowman said, due to potentially preventable chronic disease and a higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors, including poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity. 

“This really is an issue of inequity. In addition to managing a mental health condition, people are also experiencing an extra burden from preventable physical chronic diseases,” said Professor Bowman. 

“By developing and testing a new model of care in collaboration with mental health services and clinicians, we’re hoping to make a difference to this now widely recognised problem, and support people with a mental health condition to make positive changes to their nutrition and physical risk behaviours.”

Professor Bowman said existing clinician and systems barriers, such as inadequate time, low clinician confidence and a perceived lack of referral options, impede the routine provision of preventative care in mental health consultations. 

The research team will aim to overcome these barriers by working with mental health providers to co-design and test a new model of care; integrating a ‘dedicated provider’ within mental health services and offering all clients a consultation focused on preventive care for nutrition and physical activity risks. 

The integrated practitioner will be a specialist in preventative care and will be responsible for 

the initial screening of clients and will assist in increasing the capacity of other mental health clinicians to embed this practice into their routine care. 

“The primary goal of this research is to facilitate the community mental health services to progress with a feasible way forward that will empower their clients to make positive changes to their lifestyle and overall health outcomes,” said Professor Bowman.

“This is so important because we can see the huge gap when it comes to life expectancy for people with mental health conditions and yet so much of it can be prevented. 

“Hopefully by carrying out this research we’ll be able to see a way forward to reduce the chronic disease burden and the physical health inequity experienced by this population group.” 

The University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Janet Nelson, said Professor Bowman’s project was an outstanding example of the University’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of people in the local region and around the world.

“The successful funding of this project is testament to Professor Bowman’s research and reputation as a leader in the mental health space, and it highlights the University’s focus on delivering better health outcomes for our communities.”

HMRI Director Professor Tom Walley highlighted the importance of collaboration to deliver better health outcomes. 

“Professor Bowman has demonstrated success in delivering targeted strategies to support people with mental health issues, and this funding will enable her to work with consumers and clinicians to improve health outcomes for people with a mental health condition.”