Mental health issues and illnesses are associated with poor self-care and unhealthy lifestyles that contribute to morbidity, mortality and overall decrease in quality of life when compared to the general population. Healthy lifestyle promotion is infrequently considered a priority in mental healthcare services, especially in acute psychiatric inpatient units.

To present a healthy lifestyles promotion programme implemented in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit.

To reflect on how to design an adequate programme for patients with complex needs.

In a general psychiatric inpatient unit, a team of two psychologists and one psychiatrist, ventured to introduce weekly activities that included drawing, colouring, painting, crafts and games, that provided a context for patients and the team to sit down together or to gradually “drift” together and make possible conversations focusing on tobacco smoking, caffeine consumption, weight control, physical activity and health promoting activities.

Instead of individual or group psychoeducation talk interventions, play and art strategies, in closer proximity with the patients, made it far easier to engage difficult patients and made psychoeducation possible and fun.

Patients with severe mental illness are frequently reluctant to engage in activities targeting healthy lifestyles, especially in acute psychiatric inpatient units, when insight and motivation for change may be low due to illness and consequences of illness. Play and art therapy interventions led by a team of mental healthcare professionals who participate directly with the patients, may be an innovative, more effective and enjoyable strategy.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.