In comparison, the loss of years due to heavy smoking is around 8 - 10.
Researchers from Oxford University analysed studies which included 1.7 million people, reporting 250,000 deaths to compare the effects of smoking and serious mental health problems (Chesney et al., 2014).
One of the study's authors, Dr Seena Fazel, explained:
"We found that many mental health diagnoses are associated with a drop in life expectancy as great as that associated with smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day.Here are the average life expectancy losses for some of the major mental health problems:
There are likely to be many reasons for this.
High-risk behaviors are common in psychiatric patients, especially drug and alcohol abuse, and they are more likely to die by suicide.
The stigma surrounding mental health may mean people aren't treated as well for physical health problems when they do see a doctor."
- Recurrent depression: 7 - 11 years.
- Schizophrenia: 10 - 20 years.
- Bipolar disorder: 9 - 20 years.
- Drug and alcohol abuse: 9 - 24 years.
In comparison, over the course of a year, 25% of people will experience a mental health problem, although most will not be as life threatening as those listed above.
Fazel continued:
"All of this can be changed. There are effective drug and psychological treatments for mental health problems.
We can improve mental health and social care provision.
That means making sure people have straightforward access to health care and appropriate jobs and meaningful daytime activities.
It'll be challenging, but it can be done."
Comment: While smoking is constantly being demonized, it is not as injurious to health as is portrayed, and it does not cause lung cancer. Smoking commercial cigarettes with the toxic additives and fire-safe paper is not recommended, but pure tobacco has been found to be an anti-inflammatory agent, can prevent and treat Alzheimer's and delay the onset of Parkinson's disease. For more information see:
Health Benefits of Smoking Tobacco
'World No Tobacco Day'? Let's All Light Up!