FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Wendy Brennan, MS

WELLNESS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY

Summer 2007

We have all likely heard the phrase, “There is no health without mental health.” As the importance of overall health and wellness becomes increasingly clear, it is time that we pose this as a question: Can there be mental health without overall health and wellness? As New York Office of Mental Health Commissioner Michael Hogan, Ph.D., stated in a recent meeting, “There is no recovery without wellness. There is no wellness without positive mental health.”

But what exactly do we mean by wellness? And how are wellness and mental health intertwined? The summer issue of the NAMI-NYC Metro newsletter is focused on the relationship between physical health and mental health and what we as individuals, families, and a diverse mental health community can do to contribute to greater wellness and, subsequently, increased and sustained recovery.

A recent article in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease addressed the physical health issues that are prevalent in our community. Authors Craig Colton, Ph.D., and Ronald Manderscheid, Ph.D., stated, “Compared with other populations, people with mental illness have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including smoking, overweight and obesity, lack of moderate exercise, harmful levels of alcohol consumption, excessive salt intake, and poor diet.” We know that the reasons behind this disturbing finding are complex, often involving a lack of social support, medication side effects, and the stress of stigma. Sadly, the health concerns of mental health consumers are often not taken seriously in primary care settings; this means that treatable conditions often worsen without proper attention. The statistics regarding mortality rates for people diagnosed with serious mental illnesses, detailed throughout this newsletter, illuminate the very critical nature of this issue.

The good news is that many of these conditions are preventable and treatable. As Dr. Manderscheid articulated in a recent presentation at the NYU School of Medicine, “Solutions are likely to be found through coordinating good care for chronic physical disabilities and good mental health care that leads to independence and hope. The concept of recovery encompasses both of these. Consumers can and should provide leadership for this endeavor. They have great insight into how current care systems can be improved.”

There are programs working to address these issues and create stronger linkages in our own community. The Mind Your Health Workgroup, spearheaded by the Office of Consumer Affairs in the Division of Mental Hygiene, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, is devoted to raising awareness about the serious health problems affecting individuals with psychiatric disabilities. With the help of organizations like NAMI-NYC Metro, the workgroup is offering a series of educational wellness workshops. (See our events page for further details.)

Additionally, just last month, over 1,000 New Yorkers came out to engage in physical activity and have a wonderful time at the first-ever NAMI Walks New York City.

We know that change is difficult, both for individuals and for systems. It is time to ask ourselves these questions: What can we all do to live more healthfully in our daily lives? In what way would the mental health system need to change in order to support us in doing so? How can we focus our advocacy efforts to this end? It is my hope that, with regard to wellness and recovery, we can all be a part of the answer.