 |
|
International Physical Health in Youth Stream (iphYs)
Young people with psychosis deserve support to secure the same life expectancy and expectations of life as their peers who do not have psychosis (HeAL 2014 IEPA Tokyo)
Emerging from the Amsterdam IEPA conference (2010), the iphYs network has gathered momentum to become a ‘satellite day’ fixture at every IEPA conference since. The launch of the landmark Healthy Active Lives (HeAL) consensus statement in Tokyo (2014) marked the formal establishment of the network's principles and global aspirations, developed by a diverse group of clinicians, consumers, family members, and researchers from twelve countries. Over this time iphYs has encouraged a paradigm shift in how this health inequality can be tackled through an early intervention approach. Innovation has been stimulated by many collaborations, exemplified by the Australian Mindgardens Positive Cardiometabolic Health Resource (NSW). From its inception (HETI 2011) this resource has been adopted/adapted by nine countries; the Lester UK adaptation, has featured in policy implementation and national audits for over 12 years and its mantra “Don’t just Screen, Intervene” continues to shape the language of clinicians and policymakers.
Weight gain, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death should not be inevitable consequences of psychosis and its treatments
The drive towards effective interventions, core to HeAL’s aspirations, is reflected in our more recent IEPA satellite events and evidenced in pioneering service approaches to tackling health-risk behaviours: Australian KBIM (Keeping the Body in Mind) program.
Fifteen years on: the iphYs network, auspiced by IEPA continues to grow and expand its focus. This is reflected in a warm and happy process of leadership transition – Berlin IEPA 2025 saw the baton move from Jackie and David to the next generation of Scott, Brian and Ben, heralding an exciting new era. Here are some tasters of activities bridging this change:
- Highlighting neglected health inequities – Right to Smile Oral Health Consensus statement; 2023 UK version now being actively adopted/adapted for use in Australia, Wales and Ireland
- Influencing through guideline group membership / co-authorship – e.g.
o Management of physical health conditions in adults with severe mental disorders WHO 2018
o The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: a blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness 2019, & recent 2025 update
- Evolving existing resources e.g. Positive Cardiometabolic Health Resource
o Australian adult and adolescent cardiometabolic algorithms updates
o UK Lester tool updated (2023); including adolescent supplement (2025) positioned in current UK policy and by National Clinical Audit of Psychosis
- Influencing through practice & translational research
o Metabolic risk prediction PsyMetRic
o Keeping the Body in Mind Story ,consumer learning modules, training videos
o PROGRESS: current program to develop holistic and comprehensive clinical guidelines for the management of psychotic disorders in Ireland
Contact for further information: info@iphys.org.au