It is absolutely vital that people with severe mental health conditions have an Annual Physical Health Check.
Dr Aisha Sharif explains all the reasons why and highlights the key benefits of engaging with your GP.
Having annual physical health checks with your GP means that underlying health issues can be detected and treated. A few simple tests can make a big difference to your overall health and wellbeing and will help to pick up any health problems early, so you can access the support you need to stay well.
NHS England has a national ambition to improve and increase the uptake of annual physical health checks for people living with a severe mental illness (SMI), especially those diagnosed with schizophrenia, psychosis, or bipolar disorder.
If you are aged 18 or over and you have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness (SMI), you will be invited to a physical health check every year at your GP surgery.
More information about what happens at an annual physical health check, from start to finish, can be found on the NHS.uk website.
