NHS leaders are calling on those who are commissioning services to help close the "shocking mortality gap" that sees people with mental illness have life expectancies about 10 years shorter than the population as a whole.

Targeted cancer screening, regular checks for cardiovascular and physical health and smoking cessation programmes should all be improved, according to a blunt message from NHS England. Putting mental health services on an equal footing with those tackling physical health would be a first step to tackling the disparity, NHS England officials will tell a meeting in Manchester on Monday.

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