Public MH patients = 5.9 million per year
•Compared to non-SMI, those with SMI:
•
•
Ø die in greater numbers each year
Ø die earlier than expected
Ø experience more illnesses than non-SMI
According to the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors in 2005, almost 6 million people are served by the public mental health system each year.

Compared to people without Serious Mental Illness, public health care recipients with SMI:

   die in greater numbers each year (1-3.5% vs. 0.5-0.8%)

   die 10 to 30 years earlier than expected
and
   experience higher rates of somatic (non-mental) disease