Health Officials Announce 'Wellness Initiative' For Mentally Ill
Portland, OR January 9, 2008 3:29 p.m.
More than a year ago, Oregon’s health officials learned that people suffering from mental illness tend to die far earlier than other people. Wednesday they announced a new “wellness initiative.” Rob Manning reports.
An October 2006 national study by state health administrators found that the lives of the seriously mentally ill were being cut short by treatable diseases and side effects of medications.
A separate Oregon study last spring found the same thing.
Ken Palke is with Oregon Department of Human Services.
Ken Palke: “Let’s face it, when we’ve got members of this community dying an average 25 years earlier than their counterparts, that’s a pretty serious health problem.”
Oregonians struggling with addiction die on average, more than 32 years earlier than the general population.
Palke says state leaders will be supporting a task force led by experts and advocates. It will develop a plan to deal with the mortality problem.
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