1 How Peer Specialists Can Help Consumers Reach Wellness and Health Goals James Schuster, MD, MBA, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, Pittsburgh, PA Margaret Park, Recovery Specialist Allegheny County Department of Human Services September 15, 2011

2 Our goals for today Look at the research on life expectancy for people living with serious mental illness Learn what the statistics mean for real life and real people Understand how peers can help consumers improve their wellness and physical health 2 2

3 Pennslyvania HealthChoices Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Managed Care Program Department of Public Welfare; Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Oversight Statewide Behavioral Health Carve-Out – 1915b Federal waiver – County government is the recipient of funds – County government contracting models vary 3

4 About Community Care Behavioral Health Managed Care Company Founded in 1996 Federally tax exempt non-profit 501(c)3 Sole member corporation (UPMC) – provider owned Licensed as a Risk-Assuming PPO Major focus: publicly funded behavioral health care system Identified BHO for Hudson Valley Region 4

5 About Community Care Medicaid/HealthChoices membership: 700,000 Commercial/Medicare membership: 430,000 Statewide HealthChoices presence – 36 of 67 Pennsylvania counties 8 offices across Pennsylvania More than 500 employees Approximately 110,000 people served Statewide network of more than 2,500 providers 5

6 Erie Crawford Mercer Lawrence Beaver Washington Greene Fayette Allegheny Westmoreland Butler Armstrong Venango Indiana Cambria Somerset Bedford Blair Clinton Fulton Franklin Cumberland Perry Lycoming Dauphin Lancaster Chester Lebanon Pike Monroe Carbon Lehigh Northampton Bucks Montgomery Delaware Philadelphia Community Care Counties Clarion Forest Warren McKean Potter Cameron Elk Jefferson Clearfield Centre Huntingdon Mifflin Snyder Union TiogaBradford Columbia Montou r Northum- berland Schuylkill Wayne Juniata Sullivan Clarion Forest Warren McKean Potter Cameron Elk Jefferson ClearfieldCentre Huntingdon Mifflin Snyder Union TiogaBradford Columbia Montou r Northum- berland Schuylkill Wayne Juniata Sullivan Allegheny Luzerne Wyoming Susquehanna Lackawanna Adams York Berks Adams York Berks Chester Luzerne Wyoming Susquehanna Lackawanna Pike Monroe Carbon Adams York Berks Chester Community Care Office Community Care Contract 6

7 What Do We Know about Physical Health in Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses? People with serious behavioral illness die earlier than the general population. People without SMI who have risk factors common to SMI (i.e. smoking, poverty, homelessness, obesity) also die much earlier than the general population Our behavioral and physical health systems have failed to systematically address and support prevention and wellness across all populations, especially those which suffer from socioeconomic disadvantages National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council. (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA. 7

8 Impact of Various Factors Suicide and injury account for about 30-40% of excess mortality in people with SMI Sixty percent of premature deaths in persons with schizophrenia are due to medical conditions such as cardiovascular, pulmonary and infectious diseases. About 3 out of 5 people with SMI who die prematurely die from mostly preventable diseases. 8

9 Smoking Higher prevalence (56-88% for patients with schizophrenia) of cigarette smoking (up to 44% of all cigarettes sold in US are purchased by people with SMI) More toxic exposure for patients who smoke (more cigarettes, larger portion consumed) Smoking is associated with increased insulin resistance Similar prevalence in bipolar disorder Smoking cessation may be the modifiable risk factor that is likely to have the greatest impact on decreasing mortality George TP et al. Nicotine and Tobacco Use in Schizophrenia. In: Meyer JM, Nasrallah HA, eds. Medical Illness and Schizophrenia. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. 2003; Ziedonis D. Williams JM, Smelson D. Am J Med Sci (Oct); 326(4): National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council. (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA. 9

10 Obesity Obesity among persons with serious mental disorders is greater than among the general population Increased incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in SMI population Obesity in individuals with mental disorders attributed to a number of factors: –a sedentary lifestyle –poor nutritional choices –lack of access to healthy food (which is also associated with poverty) –the effects of both the mental disorder itself and the medications used to treat it –lack of access to adequate preventative medical care National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council. (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA. Citromea, L., Vreeland, B., Obesity and Mental Illness. Thakore J, Leonard BE (eds): Metabolic Effects of Psychotropic Drugs. Basel, Karger, 2009, vol 26, pp

11 Coronary Heart Disease The leading cause of death worldwide Following cardiac events, individuals with mental illness experience a 14% lower rate of invasive coronary interventions (47% in the case of schizophrenia) and an 11% increased mortality rate Despite continued improvements of care, inequalities in the quality of care of those with mental health diagnoses have been documented including the receipt of preventive care Mitchell, A.J., Lawrence, D., (2011). Revascularization and mortality rates following acute coronary syndromes in people with severe mental illness: comparative meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 198, Hennekens C.H., Hennekens, A. R., Hollar, D., Casey, D. E., Schizophrenia and increased risks of cardiovascular disease. Am Heart J, 2005; 150:

12 Suicide Suicide is the 11 th leading cause of death in the U.S. (CDC) An estimated 2-15% of individuals diagnosed with major depression die by suicide An estimated 3-20% of individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder die by suicide An estimated 6-15% of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia die by suicide Suicide is the leading cause of premature death in those diagnosed with schizophrenia 12

13 Impact of Medications Problems with psychiatric medications can include: Overweight and obesity Insulin resistance Diabetes and hyperglycemia Dyslipidemia National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council. (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA. 13

14 Inadequate Access to Physical Health Care Lack of capacity in some health care systems Stigma and discrimination Poor quality and poor provision of services in some areas Lack of adequate health care coverage (in some areas) Monitoring and treatment guidelines are underutilized with the SMI population (as they are in most populations) National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council. (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA. 14

15 Vulnerabilities People with SMI are vulnerable due to higher rates of: Homelessness Victimization or trauma Unemployment Poverty Incarceration Social Isolation National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council. (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA. 15

16 Why do we have shorter life spans? Some of the lost years of life are because of mental health symptoms like suicide & risk-taking behavior (30% to 40%) Most of the premature deaths of people with mental illnesses are due to heart problems, strokes & complications from diabetes. (60% to 70%) 16

17 60% - 70%: Preventable & Treatable Illnesses Obesity (and antipsychotics & antidepressants can increase that problem) Diabetes (atypical antipsychotics are linked) High cholesterol (antidepressants) Smoking (double the general population) Low rates of physical activity & exercise Substance use and misuse Lack of good medical care (‘flu’ shots, regular tests…) 17

18 All of these problems are “synergistic ” Smoking increases your risk of breathing problems, allergies, colds and the ‘flu’, heart disease & cancer. Being overweight increases your risk of breathing problems, diabetes, heart disease (high cholesterol & stroke) and cancer. Lack of regular exercise increases your risk of breathing problems, heart disease, diabetes, & cancer. 18

19 Synergistic effects cont’d Diabetes creates complications for all your internal organs including your heart and lungs, kidney, liver and makes it harder to heal from infections. Psychotropic Medications increase your risks of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The combination of these factors increases your risk many times 19

20 Let’s focus now on the Power of Peers 20

21 What is the GOOD news? Adding years to life is possible! There are proven ways of doing just that Developing stress hardiness-ways that work Choices and strengths work in wellness just as they do in recovery 21

22 Who, What, Where, When & How? Who knows more about recovery and resiliency than we do? Who knows more about peer support, coaching and sponsorship than we do? We can lead the way. 22

23 Leadership characteristics 1.Leaders change things 2.Leaders act with humility 3.Leaders are not victimhood. Leaders do no blame others, they work with them 4.Leaders define reality through data. Helping people measure success 5.Leaders develop and test changes. What works? 6. Leaders are courageous 7. Leaders persuade by being honest, patient and persistent 8. Leaders are empowered by the people who believe in them. They are believable. 9. Leaders are not defeated by negativity 10. Leaders think outside the box 23

24 Elements to consider Wellness Dimensions Stress Hardiness (bouncing back in life) WRAP and Peer Support Principles Leadership Characteristics 24

25 Person-Centered: Choices Matter 25 Used with permission from Peggy Swarbrick

26 Teaching Stress Hardiness 1.Challenge-threat v opportunity, self-determination, efficacy 2.Control—internal loci v. external loci, knowing which is which 3.Commitment- capacity and willingness to make a commitment Reduces risk of developing stress related health problems by 50% 26

27 Some Principles of WRAP People develop hope by making their own plans Each encounter focuses on the person’s self-determination, empowerment and choice. Mutual respect and unconditional acceptance are maintained ALL diversity is accepted and support (incl. mental diversity) All goals and plans are supported without judgment There are no pre-established limits to recovery. The focus is always on what people do well Informed choice is a primary ethical determinant. Questions are treated respectably as valuable 27

28 What Can We Act On? Many consumers have serious wellness and physical health challenges If we don’t do anything about them, many people will die at relatively young ages There are lots of activities and strategies that can help consumers get healthier and ADD years to their lives Peers can provide leadership in these efforts and help consumers to reach these goals 28

29 Resources Reinerstsen, J.L. (1998) Physicians as Leaders in the Improvement of Health Care Systems. American College of Physicians, 128(10), Susan Kobasa, Swarbrick, M. (2006). A wellness approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29,(4)