Closing the Gap pledge to the Equally Well Charter:
People with severe mental ill health experience some of the most profound health inequalities of any section of society. Long term physical health problems, such as heart disease, respiratory illness and diabetes, develop much earlier in this group and are more common. Rates of smoking and obesity are much higher and physical activity is greatly reduced leading to a reduction in life expectancy. The Closing the Gap network’s mission is to better understand and reduce this health inequality.