Adults with severe mental illness are nearly five times more likely to die from serious physical diseases before the age of 75 compared to the general population, according to a new analysis by the Rethink Mental Illness charity. The findings, based on data from the National Health Service (NHS), reveal that people with serious mental health problems tend to die 15 to 20 years earlier than others, often due to preventable physical conditions. These individuals are significantly more likely to die from a range of diseases, including liver disease, respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. They are also 14.6 times more likely to die by suicide than those without severe mental health issues. The report highlights the most severe health inequalities in recent years. For example, among working-age adults with mental illness, deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer are at their highest levels since records began. In the 2022–2024 period, each of these conditions was responsible for more than 24,000 deaths in England. Together, cancer and cardiovascular disease accounted for nearly 38% of all deaths among 18 to 74-year-olds with severe mental health problems, while respiratory disease and liver disease contributed 19% and 8%, respectively. Suicide accounted for 7% of these early deaths. The report identifies several contributing factors, including poverty, poor housing, higher rates of smoking, weight gain caused by psychiatric medications, physical inactivity, and fragmented healthcare. A key concern is "diagnostic overshadowing," where physical symptoms are mistakenly attributed to mental illness, leading to a lack of proper investigation and treatment. This issue, according to the authors, exacerbates the risk of preventable deaths among this group. The findings come ahead of the government’s independent review of mental health, autism, and ADHD, which is expected to recommend a more integrated approach to care. Rethink Mental Illness CEO Mark Winstanley called the situation a "scandal," emphasizing that people with severe mental health problems are often in regular contact with health services but still miss opportunities for early detection and treatment. He urged the new mental health strategy to prioritize physical health checks, better access to mental health-informed care, and stronger peer support to reduce health inequalities. Similarly, Prof Subodh Dave of the Royal College of Psychiatrists stressed that people with severe mental illness deserve the same chance to live long, healthy lives as anyone else and called for urgent action to address these disparities. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the issue, stating that the government is taking steps to improve services for people with severe mental illness. This includes developing a new service framework, opening 100 new community mental health centers, and creating a more integrated system to reduce waiting times and provide earlier support.