Is the SMILE Program Worth the Money?

When it comes to severe mental illness (SMI), just knowing if treatments work isn't enough. Policy makers need to know if they're a good use of limited healthcare funds. That's where cost-effectiveness studies come in. But, these studies are scarce when it comes to lifestyle interventions for people with SMI who live in the community. In the Netherlands, a study compared the SMILE program with usual care. The SMILE program aims to improve lifestyles, which can be a big challenge for people with SMI. The goal? To see if the SMILE program was a good investment of healthcare dollars. The study found that the SMILE program improved health and quality of life. But, when you look at the cost, it might not be the best use of resources. It's more expensive than usual care. So, is the SMILE program worth the extra cost? That's the big question.