Physical and mental health are closely connected and affect each other (King’s Fund, 2016).  In healthcare, mental and physical health services are often separate, and we often think of the mind and body in isolation.  Yet, poor physical health can lead to an increased risk of experiencing psychological distress or developing a mental health condition and poor mental health can negatively impact a person’s physical health.

The Integrating Mental & Physical healthcare: Research, Training & Services (IMPARTS) package has been developed to help improve mental healthcare provision within general medical settings.  The IMPARTS package has been developed to support clinicians to increase their awareness of the interaction between physical and mental health, identify patients who are showing symptoms of common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, and help clinical teams provide prompt, tailored and evidence-based care to patients who would benefit from additional support.  

The below animation outlines current issues and the benefits of taking a holistic approach to a person’s health needs, considering the impact of their physical health on their mental health, and vice versa.