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Exercise and Mental Health

We have been campaigning to raise awareness about the positive benefits that exercise can have on our mental health.

Our latest report, Moving on up, published in 2009 shows that:

  • There are still significant barriers preventing patients with mild or moderate depression from accessing exercise on prescription.
  • Funding constraints in local government and a lack of awareness about availability mean that many people are being denied exercise referral as a treatment option.
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Download or order exercise booklet now

In 2005 we published Up and Running?, a groundbreaking report explaining the connection between exercise and mental health, and how exercise therapy is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression.


Our findings revealed:
  • Many GPs we surveyed were unaware of the link between exercise and depression.
  • Only five per cent used it as one of their three most common treatment responses.
  • Our report showed that the availability of exercise referral schemes across the UK is patchy and called for greater investment to change this.

 

Our national consumer campaign focused on:
  • Raising public awareness of the protective benefits of exercise in looking after our mental health.
  • Encouraging people with mild to moderate depression to speak to their GPs about whether exercise therapy might be available in their area.


We published guidance for patients and GPs explaining the benefits of exercise and how referral schemes work.

 

Booklets about exercise and depression

 

These booklets provide information for both patients and GPs and healthcare practitioners:

 


 

Extra campaign materials



 


  • Running events that you can do in aid of the Mental Health Foundation

 


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