Sport & Mental Health- In Partnership with Sports In Mind

One in four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year.

Did you know that getting active can help to reduce anxiety, stress and combat low mood? This World Mental Health Day, we have teamed up with Sport in Mind to help raise awareness of mental health issues & how we can use sport to improve people’s mental wellbeing.

Sport in Mind® is an independent multi-award-winning mental health charity (unaffiliated to Mind and not part of the local Mind network) that was formed in Reading, Berkshire in 2010 with a simple mission: “To improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems through sport and physical activity”. Sport in Mind’s innovative programmes are delivered in partnership with the NHS and are co-designed by people with personal experience of mental health problems and healthcare professionals. Sport in Mind has gained national and international acclaim. In 2019, the charity received the highest honour a UK charity can be awarded – the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.

Taking part in sport regularly can have such a positive impact on both our mental and physical health from the body releasing feel-good hormones, here are some of the benefits!

1-Helps to Improve Sleep
2-Lowers the Risk of Depression
3-Helps to Improve Mood
4-Helps to Reduce Stress & Anxiety
5-Increases Self-Esteem
6-Helps to Improve Social Connections

Sport in Mind’s programmes have supported the recovery of over 10,000 people experiencing mental health problems. Research shows that participants who engage in Sport in Mind’s programmes for 6 months, 94% had improved mental wellbeing and 82% displayed reduced levels of stress and anxiety.
Our mental health is something which can change day-by-day, and much like our physical fitness – it can decline if we do not take steps to look after it. To find out more about Sport in Mind and how to get involved, click here!