The integration and evaluation of a lifestyle program to persons with mental illness

In Western countries, mental illness is the main cause of disabilities and accounts for a considerable part of chronic sick leave. Therefore, it is a prioritized area to prevent and improve mental illness and its physical, mental, and social comorbidity.

Persons with mental illness often receive an unequal health care and lack of support to carry out lifestyle changes. It is common for persons in this category to suffer from both physical-, mental-, and social illness. This can be seen in a shorter life expectancy compared to the rest of the population. Among the reasons behind the illness lie poor lifestyle habits such as physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, inadequate coping strategies for mental illness and lack of social relationships.

Previous studies have reported positive effects of this type of lifestyle program. However, many times the major challenge is to get these changes to persist over time and to integrate the lifestyle changes as a natural part in the ordinary care.

Therefore, the purpose of the project is to study the integration and the effects of the lifestyle program in the ordinary municipal organization.