Vinfen and DMH Present New Approaches to Health in Recovery
January 23rd, 2012
Photo: Vinfen CEO Dr. Bruce Bird, Sarah Pratt, Dr. Steve Bartels, Kelly Aschbrenner
Nearly 150 people attended the Innovative Approaches to Health Behavior Change In Psychiatric Disabilities, sponsored by Vinfen and hosted by the Department of Mental Health.
The conference was held at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center on Fenwood Road in Boston on Friday, January 20th.
“Vinfen and DMH are partners committed to helping find solutions to improving health outcomes for people with serious mental illness”, said DMH Commissioner Barbara Leadholm. “Today we saw evidence-based approaches from research and application standpoints. The excitement and challenge is bringing it together and committing to next steps to help people live healthy lives in their communities”.
Dr. Steve Bartels and his team from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice outlined research data on the serious medical problems that people living with mental illness face resulting in much shorter life expectancy than the general population.
“People with serious mental illness have a 25-30 year shorter life span than the general population and die disproportionately from preventable cardiometabolic risk factors such as smoking, obesity and diabetes,” said Bartels.
Dr. Bartels and his team, Sarah Pratt, PhD and Kelly Aschbrenner, PhD, presented data that shows people with serious mental illness being disproportionately and inappropriately placed in nursing homes.
Dr. Bartels and his team detailed five evidence-based models and emerging evidence based practices designed to improve health outcomes integrating rehabilitation, health and fitness promotion, and health care management.
After the presentation, a panel discussion was held with Dr. Kim Mueser of Boston University, Dr. Bob Master from Commonwealth Care Alliance and DMH Commissioner Barbara Leadholm.
“It’s time to tune into wellness,” said Dr. Mueser. “Social support is so important. We have to connect with the significant others of people with mental illness so they can get help their loved ones work on their goals.”
Dr. Master talked about the importance of integrating a fragmented system. “DMH has done an amazing job given the components of the system. “We need to build more robust nursing teams”.
Vinfen CEO Dr. Bruce Bird facilitated a question and answer session following the panel discussion.
A continental breakfast and lunch was provided by Webster House, one of Vinfen’s Clubhouses.
To view the presentation in its entirety, please visit www.vinfen.org.