TY - JOUR
AU - M. F. Brunette
AU - J. G. Bourassa
AU - D. J. Wallin
AU - J. C. Ferron
AU - G. E. Williams
AU - M. M. Santos
AU - S. I. Pratt
A1 - 
AB - Disparate rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) contribute to the shortened life expectancy of people with serious mental illness (SMI). CVD and its risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, often arise in young adulthood, but there is a paucity of research focusing on emerging and young adults. This study describes the health characteristics of emerging (ages 16–24) and young (ages 25–39) adults with SMI upon enrollment into a community mental health (CMH)-based integrated primary and mental health care program (n = 439). Data were collected via structured interviews, biometric assessments and medical record review. Biometric assessments indicated that 54% had obesity, 46% had hypertension, 5% had diabetes and 6% had LDL-C hyperlipidemia. Proportions with CVD risk factors did not significantly differ between emerging and young adults. When compared to the general population, this group of emerging and young adults with SMI had higher rates of obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Very few participants with CVD risk factors had corresponding diagnoses recorded in their CMH medical records. Most participants with CVD risk were not receiving behavioral or pharmacotherapy-based interventions for their physical health conditions – among participants with blood pressure over 140/90, 56% were receiving no intervention, 33% were receiving pharmacotherapy, 13% were participating in behavioral intervention. This study highlights the need for screening and treatment of CVD risk factors in emerging and young adults with SMI. Mental health center-based integrated care programs and certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) may provide the means to increase access and quality of physical health care among young people with SMI.
AD - Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH, United States.; New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Concord, NH, United States.; Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, NH, United States. jenna.g.bourassa@hitchcock.org.; Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, NH, United States.
AN - 41998278
BT - Community Ment Health J
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
DA - 04/2026
DO - 10.1007/s10597-026-01627-4
DP - NLM
ET - 20260417
JF - Community Ment Health J
LA - eng
N2 - Disparate rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) contribute to the shortened life expectancy of people with serious mental illness (SMI). CVD and its risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, often arise in young adulthood, but there is a paucity of research focusing on emerging and young adults. This study describes the health characteristics of emerging (ages 16–24) and young (ages 25–39) adults with SMI upon enrollment into a community mental health (CMH)-based integrated primary and mental health care program (n = 439). Data were collected via structured interviews, biometric assessments and medical record review. Biometric assessments indicated that 54% had obesity, 46% had hypertension, 5% had diabetes and 6% had LDL-C hyperlipidemia. Proportions with CVD risk factors did not significantly differ between emerging and young adults. When compared to the general population, this group of emerging and young adults with SMI had higher rates of obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Very few participants with CVD risk factors had corresponding diagnoses recorded in their CMH medical records. Most participants with CVD risk were not receiving behavioral or pharmacotherapy-based interventions for their physical health conditions – among participants with blood pressure over 140/90, 56% were receiving no intervention, 33% were receiving pharmacotherapy, 13% were participating in behavioral intervention. This study highlights the need for screening and treatment of CVD risk factors in emerging and young adults with SMI. Mental health center-based integrated care programs and certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) may provide the means to increase access and quality of physical health care among young people with SMI.
PY - 2026
SN - 0010-3853
ST - Health Characteristics of Emerging and Young Adults with SMI
T1 - Health Characteristics of Emerging and Young Adults with SMI
T2 - Community Ment Health J
TI - Health Characteristics of Emerging and Young Adults with SMI
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1007/s10597-026-01627-4
VO - 0010-3853
Y1 - 2026
ER -