Improving Health and Wellness for People With Serious Mental Illness in Puerto Rico

Testing Bridges to Better Health and Wellness for People Living With Serious Mental Illness in Puerto Rico

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a culturally tailored intervention, Bridges to Better Health and Wellness (BRIDGES), aimed at reducing chronic disease disparities among Puerto Ricans with serious mental illness (SMI). Participants receive monthly sessions with health care managers to address patient-provider stigma and care coordination.

BRIDGES is a multi-level Healthcare Manager Intervention (HMI) that addresses both patient and provider barriers to healthcare. It includes culturally adapted modules to reduce stigma and promote chronic disease prevention. The study uses a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomised controlled trial to test its impact on primary care service use, chronic disease outcomes and stigma reduction over 12 months.

Inclusion criteria:

Adults receiving psychiatric or psychological services at the Wellness Center or the Mayaguez Medical Center - Primary Care Diagnosed with at least one serious mental illness SMI (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, etc.) Have at least one risk factor or a diagnosis of a chronic health condition (e.g., diabetes, overweight, hypertension, etc.).

Be willing to receive or continue preventive medical care with a primary care physician.

Exclusion criteria:

Have started psychiatric or mental health services at least one month before Have been diagnosed with a general mental health condition (e.g., Depression or Anxiety).