According to recently published research, people with serious mental illnesses served by public mental health systems die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population. This increased risk is largely due to preventable medical conditions and risk factors that include obesity, smoking, substance abuse, inadequate access to medical care, and side effects of some psychiatric medications. This training course will outline the challenges to achieving overall health for people with mental illnesses and the implications of these challenges. Participants will be introduced to emerging peer-led strategies to help others manage their health effectively.