E-learning: Physical health checks for severe mental illness

Free 15 minute e-learning for primary care professionals

Improving access to physical health checks for people with severe mental illness (SMI) is part of the NHS Long Term Plan, with the aim of 390,000 people with SMI receiving physical health checks by 2023/24.

In this 15 minute session you will:

• Explore why people with a SMI experience side effects, gain weight and die prematurely.
• Look at progress on implementation of annual physical health checks for this cohort of patients.
• Share a case study and good practice tools developed to equip you to undertake annual physical health checks with optimum effectiveness and efficiency.

This course is aimed at primary care colleagues including clinicians equipped with the skills to deliver a full physical health check such as Health Care Support Workers, Practice Nurses and GPs, and be motivated to develop a key interest in a hard to reach population.

SMI refers to people diagnosed with psychological problems that are often so debilitating that their ability to engage in functional and occupational activities is severely impaired. Schizophrenia, bipolar affectivedisorderand other psychosesare referred to as SMI.