Study: People With Severe Mental Illness Die More Than a Decade Earlier — Mostly from Preventable Physical Illnesses

The useful part

A University of Queensland-led study analyzing 14 years of hospital mortality data found that men with severe mental-health disorders died an average of 12 years earlier than the general population. The findings reveal a persistent health inequality: preventable physical illnesses, especially cardiovascular disease, are playing a major role in the gap. The research also challenges a common assumption about why people with severe mental illness die younger.

How it works

• Suicide remains an important concern, but researchers say physical illnesses (including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, and other chronic conditions) account for much of the excess mortality.
• Researchers included people with depressive, neurotic and stress-related disorders, alcohol and drug-use disorders, and schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.
• Overall mortality improved during the research period, suggesting that healthcare improvements have helped some people with mental-health conditions live longer.
• Organization has similarly reported that severe mental disorders are associated with a 10- to 20-year reduction in life expectancy, with most premature deaths linked to physical health conditions rather...
• Researchers caution against viewing these risks as simple individual decisions.

What to take from it

Instead, the gap reflects a combination of physical-health risks, medication effects, social conditions, stigma, and healthcare systems that often treat mental and physical health separately. Basil MK/Pexels Smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet quality, alcohol and drug use, and disrupted sleep can all increase the risk of chronic disease. One analysis found that people with schizophrenia who smoked had an 86% higher 20-year cardiovascular mortality risk than nonsmokers with schizophrenia.

Example or evidence

• Researchers emphasize that this does not mean people should stop prescribed medication, but it does highlight the importance of monitoring physical health alongside mental-health treatment.
• Lifestyle support can help, but researchers and health organizations emphasize that it works best alongside psychiatric care, primary care, medication monitoring, smoking-cessation support, addiction...
• More Articles You Might Be Interested In: 9 Alarming Reasons America's Mental Health Crisis Keeps Getting Worse.
• Researchers say the bigger picture is more complicated.

Details worth keeping

People With Severe Mental Illness Are Dying More Than 10 Years Earlier. In comparison, women died about 10 years earlier. In the United States, an estimated 14.6 million adults experienced serious mental illness in 2024, representing about 5.6% of adults.

Related coverage

• Madinamerica: Adults With Severe Mental Illness die 15 to 20 Years Earlier From Diseases Such as Cancer
• Medicalxpress: People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States face a 14-year deficit in life expectancy, according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and...
• Drugs: FRIDAY, Sept.