Wellness Initiative

• Initiative tasks
• Tools for providers and policymakers
• Reports and research
• Presentations
• Articles and newsletters
• Resources and Web links

Many Oregonians with serious mental illnesses are dying prematurely because of disease, poor access to medical care and related problems. The Oregon Department of Human Services has launched a statewide "wellness" initiative to turn things around.

Those with serious mental illness are dying an average 25 years earlier than the general population, often due to heart disease, diabetes and problems related to side effects of medications, smoking, obesity and lack of holistic medical care, according to research by a national mental health council.

DHS, Addictions and Mental Health Division has begun forming a peer-driven task force to develop health and lifestyle measures and resources to increase the lifespan of those affected by mental illness. The task force will include persons with mental illness, their families, advocates, physicians, mental health professionals, physical fitness experts and others.

(Excerpt from a DHS media release).  

Click here for the complete listing of news releases

Wellness Initiative tasks:

• Work with partner DHS and community agencies to implement change in care coordination planning and wellness screening.
• Fund grassroots person-to-person wellness efforts to support education and lifestyle changes at the individual level.
• Develop a mechanism to increase the use of peer-to-peer support services so that individuals can find the side-by-side support needed to be successful in life style changes.
• Fund community education programs in medication management and empowerment.
• Recognize "wellness champions" among our legislative and administrative leaders to create sustainability for a statewide wellness effort.

Tool for providers and policymakers

• Activities for Addressing Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness (personal level) (pdf)
• Activities for Addressing Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness (provider level) (pdf)
• Activities for Addressing Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness (state/government level) (pdf)
• Blue Mountain Recovery Center Food Service Changes (pdf)
• Improving the Health of Mental Health Consumers: Effective Policies and Practices (pdf)
• Practical Steps for Wellness Support Building on Brainstorming at Colloquium 2007 (pdf)

Reports and Research

• Consistent routines may ease bipolar disorder (pdf)
• Diabetes-Mental Illness Link: Clinical Applications (pdf)
• Improving the Quality of Care for Older Adults with Mental Disorders: The Outcomes-Based Treatment Planning System of the NH-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center (Policy Brief from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) (pdf)
• Keeping Oregonians Healthy: Preventing Chronic Disease by Reducing Tobacco Use, Improving Diet, and Promoting Physical Activity and Preventive Screenings (pdf)
• Measuring premature mortality among Oregonians (pdf)
• Mind and Body Reunited: Improving Care at the Behavioral and Primary Healthcare Interface (pdf)
• Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness (pdf)
• Researchers puzzled by rise in midlife suicide rate in U.S. (pdf)
• Women who suffered child abuse spend more on health care (pdf)

Presentations

• Health and Wellness in the Future for People with Mental Illness (presented at the National Wellness Summit for People with Mental Illnesses) (pdf)
• Promoting Wellness on the Individual Level (Presented at the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Mental Health Services) (pdf)

Articles and Newsletters

• Body and Soul Connection
• CMHS Consumer Affairs E-news (July 7, 2008) (pdf)
• DHS wellness thrust aims at mental illness mortality rate (pdf)
• Fight or flight response (pdf)
• Good, bad and ugly grains and whole you (pdf)
• Latest Research: Fish oil could keep schizophrenia at bay
• Mental Health Weekly: Working together for longer, healthier lives  (pdf)
• New Medicare Law Removes Barriers to Mental Health Treatment
• Risks Found for Youth in New Antipsychotics - New York Times article
• Vitamin D and Mental Illness (pdf)
• The Wellness Model: supporting whole person recovery (pdf)
• Working out may help to prevent substance abuse: Clues show that physical activity might change brain chemistry (pdf)

Resources/Web links

In the U.S. the six most common causes of death are: heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung conditions, accidents and diabetes. Most of these medical conditions occur in greater proportion in mental health consumers and may occur at an earlier age. The two exceptions are cancer, which may not occur at an increased rate, and accidents which occur at a higher rate in mental health consumers. 

Abacus Program Wellness Classes - Yamhill County HHS  (pdf)

Benton County Wellness Accomplishments  (pdf)

Consumer stories of wellness and recovery

Links

Here are some great resources that address these six causes of death and other important topics.

Eating well

Healthy work place

Living well with chronic conditions - a six-week workshop

Managing Antiobiotic Use

Managing Mental Well-Being

Mental Health America

This web site has great fact sheets on numerous topics

Physical activity and nutrition  

Project ABLE, c.

Presents a peer-delivered recovery academy with a course series that includes: Recovery 101; Medication Empowerment (Partnerships in Communication) Negotiating Therapy; Leadership Academy; WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan).

Seniors and People with Physical Disabilities Resource Page

State Asthma plan   (pdf)

State Diabetes plan (pdf) 

State Heart Disease Plan (pdf)   

Tobacco prevention