About HealthRight

The HealthRight Project 2006-2008 was developed to address the health inequities for people with mental illness in WA, via multilevel strategies to engage them in visiting their GP and address lifestyle risk factors. The project is facilitated by the UWA School of Community, Culture & Mental Health Unit and funded by the Mental Health Division.

Project Background

In 2001, the University of Western Australia published a report entitled Duty to Care which highlighted some alarming statistics on the physical health of people with mental illness.Download copy of Duty to Care Report here: Consumer Summary or Key Stakeholder Summary.

The Facts

Research shows that people with mental illness in Western Australia are:

• 2.5x more likely to die from a physical illness than the general population
  
• more likely to experience nutritional deficiencies, obesity and diabetes
  
• more likely to engage in high risk behaviour such as smoking, alcohol or drug abuse
• less likely to engage in health-promoting activities such as good diet and exercise 
  (Duty to Care Report, 2001)

As a result the HealthRight Advisory Group was formed and recommendations of the group were published in the Who is Your GP? Report in 2004.The Mental Health Division allocated and confirmed funding for a three year period in June 2005 and a project officer was employed in October 2005 to implement the recommendations.

HealthRight Project Initiatives

1. Peer Support Program
2. Healthy Body Healthy Mind Healthy Lifestyle Project
3. Healthy Settings Strategy: HealthRight Organisations
   

Read More

Download conference powerpoint presentation HealthRight Project Overview, 2007