Adults with severe mental illness die up to 20 years earlier from physical diseases

A new analysis of NHS data released by the mental‑health charity Rethink Mental Illness shows that adults living with severe mental illness face stark health inequalities, dying on average 15 to 20 years earlier than the general adult population. The research indicates that these individuals are almost five times more likely to die before the age of 75 from serious physical diseases, with the excess mortality largely linked to preventable conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory illnesses.

The findings highlight a persistent gap in the provision of physical health care for people with severe mental health problems, underscoring the need for integrated treatment approaches within the NHS. By identifying the extent of premature mortality, the report calls for targeted interventions to address preventable physical health risks and to close the disparity between mental‑health patients and their peers.