Safeguarding the physical health of people with severe mental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is putting unprecedented stress on global healthcare systems. Psychiatrists have also seen great changes to their day-to-day practice with a move towards telephone and video consulta- tions alongside general practice and secondary care colleagues. As we move towards operating in these new ways for the foreseeable future, it is likely that COVID-19 will further exacer- bate multilevel risk factors for excess mortality in people with severe mental disorders (usually understood to include people with psychosis, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder).