HealthInfo Canterbury
Keeping physically healthy with a mental illness or addiction
Kia hauora tonu me tētahi matenga ā-hinengaro, tētahi waranga rānei
Getting a physical health check-up is a good way to stay healthy. The best place to have this is at your general practice.
If you have a mental illness, this can understandably become the focus of your time with your general practice team. To make the best use of the time, be clear about what physical health issues you want to discuss. See Preparing for your doctor's visit for information about how to prepare.
If you want to, you can take a support person with you to your appointment. Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS) and Comcare Trust can offer a peer support person. You can also ask whānau (family) or friends.
Your general practice team will talk to you about any health problems you are concerned about. They should also check for health problems that are more common in people with a mental illness.
Self-care with a mental illness or addiction
There are several things you can do to look after your physical health.
- Eat well.
- Keep active.
- Get enough sleep.
- Do not smoke. If you smoke, there is help available for you to stop.
- Keep your alcohol use to safe limits.
- Avoid using recreational drugs.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2023.
SourcesReview key: HIPMH-416421
