15 July 2008
The Mental Health Foundation is calling on supporters to take part in the Adidas Women’s Challenge on 7 September 2008. The 5K fun run is taking place in just three cities - London, Liverpool and Birmingham. Last year, a team of women raised over £8,000 for the charity.
The run is open to all women, regardless of age, fitness levels or running ability and participants only need raise a minimum of £100.
Celia Richardson, Director of Fundraising at the Mental Health Foundation said: “We would love to build on the success of last year’s run and have an even bigger team running for the Foundation in 2008.”
Statistics on women and mental health:
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Depression is more common in women than in men – 1 in 4 women will require treatment for the illness, in comparison to 1 in 10 men.
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Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety as men. Of people with phobias or OCD, about 60% are female.
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Young Asian women are three times as likely to take their own lives as young white women.
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Women make up just 6% of the prison population yet they accounted for 46% of all reported self harm incidents.
According to research by the charity, taking regular exercise is an excellent way to lift mood as it releases feel-good brain chemicals called endorphins.
Notes to editors
For more information please contact Simon Loveland on 020 7803 1130 or email sloveland@mhf.org.uk
The Mental Health Foundation uses research and practical projects to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. We work to influence policy, including government at the highest levels. And we use our knowledge to raise awareness and to help tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. We reach millions of people every year through our media work, information booklets and online services.
Registered charity: 801130
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