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“Well-Track” healthy lifestyle coaching in severe mental illness: a qualitative study exploring participant experience and impact
Sheldon, Alice Griffiths, Chris Baukaite, Ema Walker, Kate
Sheldon, Alice
Griffiths, Chris
Baukaite, Ema
Walker, Kate
Abstract
Background: Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours contribute to the poor physical health experienced by people with severe mental illness (SMI). Severe mental illness symptoms and the medications used in treatment make adopting a healthy lifestyle challenging. Intervention: Well-Track uses a wearable activity tracker and three sessions with a health coach to promote healthy lifestyle behaviour change. The tracker allows physical activity, sleep and calorie expenditure to be monitored. The coach provides personalised support and accountability through motivational interviewing, goal-setting, healthy lifestyle advice and feedback. Participants: Fifteen participants under the care of a community mental health team (CMHT) were interviewed following their completion of the intervention. They comprised 7 females, 7 males and 1 non-binary, with an age range of 21 to 62 years. Methods: Individual in-depth one-to-one interviews were conducted. The qualitative data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Participants benefitted from the combination of the activity tracker and health coaching. By setting personalised goals, monitored by the tracker and supported by the health coach, individuals increased physical activity and improved their sleep hygiene and eating habits. Participants described enhanced physical fitness and healthy weight management alongside improvements in mood, self-confidence, positive self-identity and reduced social isolation. Conclusion: Well-Track can enable healthy lifestyle changes to improve the physical and mental health and well-being of people with SMI.
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Date
2025-05
Type
Article
Subject
Psychotic Disorders, Physical Exertion, Exercise, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Sleep, Monitoring, Ambulatory
Citation
Sheldon, A. , Griffiths, C. , Baukaite, E. and Walker, K. (2025) “Well-Track” healthy lifestyle coaching in severe mental illness: a qualitative study exploring participant experience and impact. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine v15 pp.99-122. doi: 10.4236/ojpm.2025.155006.
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Copyright © 2025 by author(s) and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/