Dean's Grand Rounds - The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Mental Health: From Evidence to Everyday Practice

Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of disability worldwide, with rising rates of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and severe mental illness placing an increasing burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Despite advances in pharmacological and psychological treatments, many people continue to experience persistent symptoms, poorer physical health and reduced quality of life.

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, social connection, and the avoidance of harmful substances, play a fundamental role in the prevention and management of mental illness, offering new opportunities to improve both mental and physical health outcomes.

In this Royal College of Psychiatrists Dean’s Grand Rounds (DGR) , Dr Mihaela Bucur, Consultant Psychiatrist and Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician; Professor Joseph Firth, Professor of Psychology and Mental Health at The University of Manchester; Beverley Nolker, Lived Experience Educator; and Dr Charlotte Marriott, Consultant Psychiatrist and Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician, will explore the evidence about the impact of lifestyle factors on mental health and the growing role of Lifestyle Medicine in contemporary psychiatric practice.

The session will examine:

• the principles of Lifestyle Medicine and the six pillars that underpin its application in mental healthcare
  the evidence supporting lifestyle interventions in mental health disorders
• lived experience perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of integrating lifestyle interventions into everyday life
• strategies for integrating lifestyle approaches into psychiatric care.

Drawing on clinical expertise, research and lived experience, this DGR aims to highlight the central role of lifestyle factors in mental health and explore how integrating evidence-based lifestyle interventions alongside conventional psychiatric treatments can improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life.

1. Welcome and introduction - Dr Deepa Bagepalli Krishnan
2. Context setting - Dr Mihaela Bucur
3. The principles of Lifestyle Medicine and the six pillars that underpin its application in mental healthcare - Dr Mihaela Bucur
4. The evidence supporting lifestyle interventions in mental health disorders - Professor Joseph Firth
5. Lived experience of integrating lifestyle interventions - Beverley Nolker
6. Strategies for integrating lifestyle approaches into psychiatric care - Dr Charlotte Marriott
7. Q&A
8. Closing comments - Dr Deepa Bagepalli Krishnan

Find out more about the Dean's Grand Rounds, suggest your own session, and watch previous webinars on our website.

This event will take place online via Zoom. Please ensure you have access to:

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