It has been found that compared to the general population, people who have had a mental illness at some time of their lives are twice as likely to have had a stroke or heart disease. Despite this correlation, the higher risk of heart disease and stroke may not be caused by the mental illnesses themselves. The chief researcher mentions that people with mental illnesses often behave in ways that may increase their risk of other health problems, such as drinking alcohol or smoking, and the medications taken to treat mental illnesses may also contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the researcher says that stigma attached to mental health disorders can make it difficult for patients to talk about their illness and prevent them from seeking and receiving the care they need. This means that health care providers should be more attentive when treating patients with mental health illnesses.
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