14th October 2025
Poor Mental Health: reactions to life events or biological disorders – or both
A mental disorder is not definable in the same way as a physical illness.
Unlike the signs and symptoms of a physical disorder, the symptoms of a mental disorder are experiences, moods, and behaviours with meanings that may be interpreted differently by different individuals and cultural groups and in different settings. There are no signs or objective tests; instead, diagnoses are reliant on the observations and descriptions of the individual or their carers or family members.
We have limited understanding of what is happening in the bodies and brains of those who have a mental disorder. Yet we label them and talk about mental disorders as if they are a thing that can be defined. However, the society we live in and socioeconomic factors can also impact the development of mental illness and physical long-term conditions.
The relationship between mental health and physical health is bi-directional. People living with a long-term condition are two to three times more likely to experience mental health conditions than the general population. Social conditions—for example, where we are born, where we live, where we go to school, our parents, the job we choose and how we age—all determine our susceptibility to ill health and health outcomes. Furthermore, the combination of physical illness and mental health problems has an impact on health outcomes, service delivery, and costs to the NHS.
Are you confident in identifying common mental health conditions?
Are you confident in assessing common mental health conditions?
Education for Health has developed two courses for healthcare professionals working with patients with long-term conditions to support their patients’ mental health as well.
Level 6: Supporting Mental Health for Adults with Long-Term Conditions
This course provides an overview of common mental health conditions encountered in primary and community care settings, considering risk factors for their development as a co-morbidity in people with long-term physical health conditions.
The course evaluates evidence around pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in mental healthcare and the tools available to identify mental health conditions.
The course provides additional focus on patients from vulnerable groups and the role of multi-disciplinary team in the planning and delivery of care. Grounded in person-centred strategies, it aims to equip healthcare professionals to have conversations around mental health as part of their treatment of patients with long-term physical health conditions.
Level 7: Impact of Mental Health on Long-Term Conditions
This course explores the controversy regarding mental health problems and difficulties with diagnosis.
The course examines the impact of environment, socioeconomic factors, and health inequalities on the development of mental health problems the subsequent health outcomes and factors influencing recovery.
The course will evaluate the issues facing the NHS and society regarding the care of adults with long-term conditions and their mental health.