physical health

Modern research has revealed just how much our physical health affects the way we think and feel
and it is common for people who are experiencing a mental illness to neglect their physical wellbeing.
Support services must address clients’ physical wellbeing so that mental ill health recovery is accompanied
by physical wellness.

Ermha has identified the need for clients to include goals in their Individual Support Plans that target:

• Regular general and preventative health check-ups
• Diet, nutrition and physical activity
• Education about medication side-effects and management
• Education about healthy life choices

However, Ermha believes that for clients to achieve their physical health goals they must be supported
by a coordinated system that includes:

general practitioners, clinical mental health services, community based health support such as fitness
and recreation training and dietary specialists, to name a few.

Achieving coordination between services is an intensive process and requires significant investment.
Ermha will seek such investment to achieve this coordination in its service regions in order to address
clients’ health needs and to ease the burden on our health system.