World Mental Health Day: Supporting everyone to enjoy activity
Saturday 10 October is World Mental Health Day, hosted by the World Federation of Mental Health. To help mark the occasion, the Mental Health Foundation is raising awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health problems can live with dignity. The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) recognises the importance that physical activity has on all our health and well-being.
Participation in physical activity and sport has been shown to be effective in reducing depression, anxiety, psychological distress and emotional disturbance. Low to moderate physical exercise can reduce anxiety and have both short and long-term beneficial effects on psychological health. Taking part in sport and spectating can have a positive impact on the wellbeing and happiness of young people. (ONS, 2014).
This World Mental Health Day, EFDS is encouraging sport and exercise providers to think about the ways in which they can ensure the good mental health of people through lifestyle choices, better social connections and active citizenship.
People with mental health issues less engaged in activity
Our research shows that people with mental health issues are less engaged in sport and physical activity. The Lifestyle Report released by the EFDS in September 2013 revealed that people with mental health issues are less engaged in sport and physical activity. The research highlights some stark findings for people with mental health issues, who are much less likely to be engaged in sport compared to people with other impairments:
- Only 56% stated that they enjoyed the last time they played sport compared to 78% of people with other impairments.
- Only 46% see playing sport or being active as important compared to 69% of people with other impairments.
- Only 35% enjoyed PE at school compared to 51% of people with other impairments.
- Only 28% think of themselves as a sporty person compared to 52% of people with other impairments.
- The expense of sport is a significant barrier to participation for people with a mental health issue.
As well as the barriers to sporting participation, EFDS's research also determines a number of opportunities for policymakers and sports providers:
- Unlike people with other impairments who take part because it is fun, the main reason people with mental health issues take part in sport or physical activity is to improve their health.
- Taking part in sport and physical activity alone is much more common among people with mental health issues, who are twice as likely to take part alone (53%), compared to than other impairments (24%).
- People with mental health issues seek sport and physical activity opportunities which require minimal commitment- something which is flexible that focuses on fun and enjoyment that they can take part in alone.
Who can help?
Mind charity runs a new programme- Get Set to Go. Thanks to support from Sport England and the National Lottery, the programme aims to improve the lives of 75,000 people who have mental health problems through access to sport in their communities.
The programme works in three ways:
- If you live in one of the eight areas where our local Minds offer Get Set to Go you can sign up to get support to increase your activity levels and find the right sport for you. They're also working with the sport and leisure sector in these areas to see how we can remove the barriers to participation for people with mental health problems.
- They've produced new information that explains the benefits of physical activity for mental and physical health.
- If you live outside of the eight Get Set to Go areas you can join Elefriends community. It's a safe and supportive online community where you can get support and motivation to be active.
Sport in Mind, an independent mental health charity founded in 2011, points out that this year, one in four of us in the United Kingdom will be affected by a mental health problem. Despite this, there is still a tremendous amount of stigma attached to this type of illness. At Sport in Mind® they use sport to assist people in their recovery from illness and raise awareness.
“For years it has been common knowledge that playing regular sport and exercise is beneficial to one's physical health. However, many people are still unaware that exercise can have a positive effect on peoples’ mental health. Extensive research into mental illness has shown us that individuals participating in regular sporting activities have reduced levels of anxiety, improvements in mood and increased self-esteem.”
Sport in Mind and Sport England have a promotional video, showing people with mental health problems being active in sport and physical activity. Find out more about Sport in Mind on their website.
This week, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the Professional Players Federation and Mind, joined with the FA to host Sport Minds; sponsored by LPP Consulting. As part of a packed day the Alliance celebrated the 200th signatory to the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation, which was only launched in March. You can read more on the Charter here.
Other documents you may find interesting are:
- Mental Health Foundation "lets get physical" report
- Mental Health Foundation "How to look after your mental health using exercise"
- CPSU Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in sport
EFDS programmes and resources
EFDS recognises the part sport and physical activity have to play in the lives of people with mental health issues. As well as supporting the sport and fitness sector to be more inclusive, we encourage disabled people to be active at whatever level they choose.
The Being Active guide, by EFDS in partnership with Disability Rights UK, talks directly to disabled people. It gives inactive disabled people access to relevant information, so they have control over where, what and how they can start being active.
EFDS programmes like Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) leads the way in providing accessible physical activity and increasing disabled people’s participation.
IFI provides accessible physical activity and increases participation. EFDS has been delivering the programme for over ten years and in this time has accredited over 400 IFI Mark gym facilities nationally. Those gyms realise how important accessibility and service provision is for disabled people.
Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training was established in 2012, supported by £1 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England. This initiative is delivered through the English Federation of Disability Sport and sports coach UK. By educating and working directly with community providers, there will be more opportunities for everyone to enjoy being active.
To find out when an Active Kids for All Inclusive Community Training workshop is taking place near you, please email AK4A@efds.co.uk or phone 01509 227751.
*Mental health problems include: anxiety, addiction, obsession, phobia, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, schizophrenia or an eating disorder.
If you are a disabled person looking for an inclusive gym or a participation opportunity near you, visit our IFI facility search or events pages.
