Establishing exercise physiology services within Western Australian mental health services: service outcomes and consumer experiences.
Bonnie Furzer1,2, Kemi Wright3, Caleb Mcmahen1,2, Felicity Austin1, Azam Edoo2 1The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia2Fremantle Hospital Mental Health Service, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia3The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Abstract
Due to the benefits of exercise on both physical and mental health for people experiencing mental illness, exercise can potentially play an important role in consumer care, and as such in 2019 Fremantle Hospital Mental Health Service (FHMHS) established the first Western Australian Exercise Physiology program for outpatient consumers.
Between October 2019 and December 2021, a mixed-methods service evaluation was conducted based on service outcome data and consumer experiences of exercise.
In the evaluation period there were 72 community consumers engaged. Psychotic Disorders were the predominant diagnoses (61%); however, 45% of consumers had multiple diagnoses, with 87% prescribed two or more classes of medication. Physical health conditions were common (81%) and primary reasons for referral were for weight management (67%) and improvement of physical health (30%). Average sedentary time per day was high (x= 11.8 hours; range = 7.5-20) with 80% of consumers having no daily exercise and 65% spending less than 30 minutes walking.
Seven consumers participated in semi-structure interviews describing exercise experience on human connection, routine and purpose, emotional outcomes, physical health, medication and improved mental health symptomology: acute, sustained, and behavioural replacement.
At intake of the program consumers had poor physical health and substantial risk factors for further poor physical health. Consumers described the positive impacts that the exercise program had on their psychological, social, and physical wellbeing. Exercise in outpatient mental health services can play a role in improving not only the physical wellbeing of consumers but also assist in improving social and psychological well-being.
Biography
Caleb is a Senior Exercise Physiologist working within Fremantle Hospital Mental Health Service providing exercise therapy for consumers in both outpatient, and inpatient programs. Alongside his role as a clinician, Caleb is a PhD candidate at the University of Western Australia conducting research into the positive effects of exercise for consumers experiencing Severe Mental Illness, and how to improve the service pathways of exercise services within mental health care.