Mental health and cardiovascular disease

A heart event or a stroke can happen suddenly and the road to recovery can be an emotional experience, not just for the individual, but for the person caring for them as well. Becoming a carer can be daunting, especially if you haven’t been in that role before.

Your loved one will need a lot of support. Talk to them about how they’re feeling or coping. You may also want to encourage them to attend counselling, support groups or other services listed above or recommended by their doctor or hospital.

Be aware of your emotions too. Along with positive feelings of love, care and gratitude, it’s normal to feel angry, frustrated or sad. A bit of extra support can make a big difference. If you are unable to get help from friends and family, you might want to access other resources such as the Carer Gateway, Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres or reach out to your GP.

The Head to Health website also provides advice for carers on how to support someone with a mental health condition https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/giving-support

Read more about financial support for carers.

With advancements in medical and surgical interventions, people are surviving longer following cardiac events and strokes. However, many survivors of CVD events live with significant co-morbidities, including mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.¹

Mental illness is also increasingly recognised as a risk factor for CVD, with severe mental illness associated with a 37% increase in the risk of cardiovascular events.² Average prevalence rates for post-cardiac event depression and anxiety are approximately 23% and 29%, respectively.¹ Both anxiety and depression have a negative impact on outcomes for cardiac patients, including premature mortality, recurrent events, re-hospitalisations, higher healthcare use, reduced quality of life and poorer adherence to health-enhancing behaviours.¹   

Australian clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders and anxiety recommend evidence-based lifestyle interventions prior to, or alongside, the prescription of psychological therapy or medication.^3,4The implementation of strategies to manage stress, sleep, social isolation, and loneliness can promote the uptake of positive behaviour modifications.⁵ 

Resources

Explore the latest evidence and innovative approaches to delivering mental health support in primary care, including blended care and the evidence base for digital/e-supports. Watch the webinar: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/events/webinar-invisible-ties-mental-health-and-cvd.

Access InformMe, the Stroke Foundation’s dedicated resource for health professionals to improve stroke care.

This page is a product of the Mind CVD project, an initiative of the National Heart Foundation of Australia and Stroke Foundation in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Heart Health. The project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health​ and Aged Care.

Mind CVD aims to ensure that Australians recovering from a cardiovascular event (including stroke), and their carers, have improved access to information and support for their mental wellbeing.

An initial scoping of the literature and research in people with heart disease and stroke showed that:

• depression and anxiety after a heart event or stroke can negatively impact recovery and quality of life. Reassurance about their future, quality of life and prevention of recurrent events would be beneficial
• a systematic screening for mental health problems after a heart event or stroke is recommended for patients
• physical activity, structured exercise programs and various mind-body activities can improve mental health symptoms and quality of life after a heart event or stroke.

Some of the resources produced as part of the Mind CVD project:

• Your heart and mental health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftDhtZ-CGO8
• Heart stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_FbTG3eJ6U
• Stories from people caring for someone living with heart disease https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9gADu_Pxcw
• Wellbeing posters
• Depression and anxiety after stroke factsheet: https://strokefoundation.org.au/what-we-do/for-survivors-and-carers/after-stroke-factsheets/depression-and-anxiety-after-stroke-fact-sheet

1. Murphy B, Rogerson M, Jackson A. Mental health conditions post-cardiac event and post-stroke: a scoping review. 2022, Australian Centre for Heart Health, Melbourne, Australia.
2. Cunningham R, Poppe K, Peterson D, Every-Palmer S, Soosay I, Jackson R. Prediction of cardiovascular disease risk among people with severe mental illness: a cohort study. PLoS One. 2019 Sep 18;14(9):e0221521.
3. Andrews G, Bell C, Boyce P, et al. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2018;52(12):1109-1172.
4. Malhi GS, Bell E, Bassett D, et al. The 2020 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2021;55(1):7-117.
5. Kwok CS, Kontopantelis E, Kuligowski G, et al. Self-reported sleep duration and quality and cardiovascular disease and mortality: a dose-response meta-analysis. J Am Heart Assoc. 7(15);e008552.