People with mental disorders need better healthcare else they may die decades earlier than the average person — mostly from untreated and preventable chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease that are aggravated by poor health habits, inadequate physical activity, poor nutrition, smoking, and substance abuse.

Barriers to primary care, coupled with challenges navigating a complex healthcare system, significantly impede appropriate care in the behavioral health space. Primary care is the "gateway" for identifying mental health disorders; primary care providers will require support and resources to appropriately diagnose and treat individuals with mental and general healthcare needs. Integrated care and the systematic coordination of general and mental healthcare is required. .