Risk Prevalence, Readiness and Confidence to Change Lifestyle Risk Factors Among Clients of Community Mental Health Services

Objective: People with mental health conditions have high rates of chronic physical diseases, partially attributable to lifestyle risks factors. This study examined risk prevalence among community mental health service clients, their readiness and confidence to change, and associations with participant characteristics.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of adult clients from 12 community mental health services across 3 local health districts in New South Wales, Australia, collected from 2021 to 2022. Participants ( = 486) completed a telephone interview determining five risk factors, and readiness and confidence to change these. Multiple binary logistic regression models determined associations between readiness and confidence (for each risk), and participant characteristics (demographics and diagnosis).

Results: Participants most commonly reported a diagnosis of schizophrenia (36.7%) or depression (21.1%). Risk factors were prevalent: ranging from 26% (harmful alcohol use) to 97% (poor nutrition). High readiness was greatest for smoking (68%), weight (66%) and physical inactivity (63%), while confidence was highest for changing alcohol use (67%). Two significant associations were identified; females were more likely than males to have high readiness to change nutrition (odds ratio = 1.14, confidence interval = [1.13, 2.34],  = 0.0092), with males more likely to have high confidence to change physical activity (odds ratio = 0.91, confidence interval = [0.45, 0.99],  = 0.0109).

Conclusions: Many participants were ready and confident to change risk factors. Gender influenced readiness to change nutrition and physical activity confidence. Training to upskill mental health clinicians in provision of preventive care that builds confidence and readiness levels may aid in supporting positive behaviour change.