A Neglected Need Health Education for the Mentally Ill

The Role of a Fitness Intervention on People with Serious Psychiatric Disabilities.

“…Despite the definitive knowledge that individuals with schizophrenia are living with weight-related health conditions that interfere with treatment and reintegration efforts, few mental health programs offer continuous wellness interventions that address weight gain and overall physical well-being. Program evaluation research, while limited by design issues, suggests the efficacy of physical health and psycho-educational interventions as an effective strategy for health promotion and disease prevention in persons with serious mental illness (Nigro & Maggio, 1990; Borelli & DeLuca, 1993; Addington, el-Guebaly, Campbell, Hodgins, & Addington, 1998; Leppamaki, Partonen, Hurme, Haukka, Lounqvist, 2002). Plante (1996) reviewed the research on the use of physical exercise as an adjunct to treatment and rehabilitation and concluded overwhelmingly that exercise improves a range of psychiatric symptoms.…”

Health education or empowerment education with individuals with a serious persistent psychiatric disability.

“…Moreover, different modalities may be helpful to promoting health in individuals with a psychiatric disability (Byrne, Brown, Voorberg, & Schofield, 1994). Reports that have focused on the use of health promotion programs in this field tend to provide descriptions of structure and the implementation of such programs (Lebrun, Leladhar-Singh, & Luke, 1991; Lukoff, Wallace, Lieberman, & Burke, 1986; Nigro, Maggio, 1990; Perry & Kirmer, 1990). For example, earlier work illustrated that health promotion activities can be done; that elaborate incentive programs are unnecessary; that individuals with a psychiatric disability living in the community are willing to participate and help design programs for themselves; that if programs are taken to their home they will participate; that they can and will use examples from their own lives to share with each other; and that fitness and healthy lifestyle activities are of concern to these individuals but not as important as finances, housing, support, family, and friends (Byrne et al, 1994).…”