Our mental and physical health are linked, we cannot influence one without impacting on the other.
It is important to understand how experiencing psychosis can affect physical health and how it is essential to look after ourselves.
One of the key interventions provided by EIP services is to work with individuals to support improvements in physical health and well-being.
EIP services offer physical health screening and interventions as part of an individual’s care and treatment. By monitoring physical health, the team can work with the person to promote physical well-being and offer support as and when required to prevent longer-term physical health problems from developing.
EIP physical health clinics offer an initial screening appointment upon acceptance into the service followed by regular follow-ups to monitor:
- Weight
- Height
- Pulse and blood pressure
- Glucose and cholesterol in the blood
- Heart health using an ECG machine
More information is available in this information leaflet.
If the person meets the threshold for intervention on any of these measurements, the EIP service will arrange for further exploration, onward referral or provide a specific intervention package.
Lifestyle Education to Achieve Potential (LEAP) programme
EIP services offer a Lifestyle Education to Achieve Potential (LEAP) programme to all individuals under EIP services in Wales, regardless of the screening results.
The LEAP programme is delivered as a 90-minute session once a week for six weeks and focuses on promoting physical health and healthy lifestyles by offering:
- Sessions tailored to meet the needs of the group or individual
- Practical advice on managing individual physical health
- Education around healthy lifestyles
- Support around goal-setting
- A range of topics including exercise, healthy eating, online safety, smoking cessation, substances, coping strategies, medication side effects and daily routines
- Access to staff with varied professional backgrounds
- Opportunity to engage in physical activities and the adventure therapy programme
Download a series of leaflets and posters highlighting key messages and top tips.
Read the paper exploring the cross-over between physical health and adventure therapy: