THE parents of a North-East man who choked to death because of the drugs given to him to treat his mental illness are backing a national campaign to improve healthcare for people with schizophrenia.

The +20 Report published by Rethink Mental Illness shows that people with schizophrenia in Britain, are at risk of dying on average 20 years younger than the current British life expectancy of 81 - mainly because of preventable physical illnesses.

They are three times more at risk of dying from coronary heart disease and ten times more likely to die from respiratory diseases.

Rethink Mental Illness is calling on local health providers to improve physical healthcare for people with mental illness.

Bill Watson, from Durham City, was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17 and given antipsychotic drugs to manage his condition.

As a side effect of the medication he developed dystonia, a condition in which a person has uncontrollable muscle spasms, including choking. Sadly, he died of a choking attack in 2010 at the age of 38.

His mother, Vera Watson, said: “Soon after Bill started university we noticed he was walking really slowly and losing his balance. After a considerable time he was diagnosed with dystonia.

"We were told this was a direct result of his medication, but nevertheless to continue with it."

She added: "Though the drugs did help Bill with his mental health, it left him in a wheelchair and he needed carers 24 hours a day.

“My husband Keith and I want to prevent any more unnecessary deaths and heartache. We feel that Bill should have got a lot more support to help him with the dystonia rather than just getting treatment for his mental health.

“We hope that Bill’s story helps to highlight the importance of taking the physical health of people with a mental illness seriously.”