ImprovINg the TIMEly Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer and Cardio-metabolic Diseases in People With Mental Disorders: Reducing Health Disparities Through Integrated Care

One in five people in Italy has a mental disorder, with depression being the most common and schizophrenia the most severe. People with mental illness have a higher risk of cardio-metabolic and oncologic comorbidities. They also face disparities in accessing appropriate care, with a 20-year life expectancy reduction. IN-TIME will employ an innovative and highly interdisciplinary approach to characterize barriers to healthcare in people with mental illness for informing interventions and enhancing screening, diagnostic pathways and health outcomes. The project will provide: 1) population-based evidence and characterization of disparities in diagnosis and care for cancer and cardio-metabolic disorders; 2) a fine-grained identification of modifiable barriers, such as those relating to stigma and communication; 3) change promoting interventions, including a policy brief to orient clinical guidelines and best practice to reduce stigma, improve doctor-patient communication and optimize care.