Severe Mental Illness Linked to 15-20 Year Reduction in Life Expectancy in England
New research by Rethink Mental Illness reveals that adults with severe mental illness in England die significantly earlier than the general population, largely due to preventable physical conditions and systemic healthcare failures.
Adults living with severe mental illness in England are dying 15 to 20 years earlier than the wider adult population, according to new research analyzing NHS data. The study, conducted by the charity Rethink Mental Illness, highlights a stark disparity in life expectancy driven primarily by preventable physical health conditions rather than mental health crises alone.
The findings indicate that those under the age of 75 with serious mental ill health are nearly five times more likely to die from physical diseases compared to their peers who have not been referred to specialist services. Specifically, the overall likelihood of dying before age 75 is 4.8 times higher for this group. When broken down by specific conditions, the risks are pronounced: individuals are 6.3 times as likely to die from liver disease, six times more likely to die from respiratory illness, and 3.8 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Additionally, they are 2.3 times as likely to die from cancer.
During the 2022-2024 reporting period, deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer among working-age adults with mental illness reached their highest levels since records began, totaling more than 24,000 deaths. Cancer and cardiovascular disease each accounted for just under 19% of all early deaths among 18 to 74 year olds with severe mental health problems. Respiratory disease accounted for 11%, while liver disease made up 8%. Suicide comprised 7% of these early deaths, with affected individuals being 14.6 times as likely to die by suicide compared to those not referred to specialist services. Collectively, these major physical conditions accounted for 56.5% of deaths in this demographic.
The report attributes this excess mortality to a combination of socioeconomic factors and healthcare system issues. Drivers include poverty, poor housing, higher rates of smoking, weight gain associated with medication, physical inactivity, and fragmented care. A critical factor identified is "diagnostic overshadowing," where physical symptoms are incorrectly attributed to a patient's mental health condition, leading to potential illnesses being overlooked or untreated.
Mark Winstanley, chief executive of Rethink, described the situation as a scandal, noting that people with severe mental health problems are disproportionately dying from preventable physical conditions. Prof Subodh Dave, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, stated that while evidence-based solutions exist to close this health gap, concerted action has been lacking.
In response to the findings, the Department of Health and Social Care announced plans to open 100 new community mental health centres and develop a new modern service framework. The government’s independent review of mental health, autism, and ADHD is expected to be published shortly after the release of this report.