Exercise Your Brain Gareth Allen

The Benefits of Physical Exercise on Mental Wellbeing • Healthy Body, Healthy Mind…

• “Physical activity can help with anxiety, panic attacks and stress.”

• “Physical activity can improve confidence and self esteem and may improve sleep.”

• “Being outdoors in green spaces further enhances the mental health benefits of physical activity.”

• “83% of individuals with mental health issues felt that physical activity helped lift their mood.”

My Recovery Cycle

• Untreated Recovery • Slow and risky

• Intervention • Acute care / detention

• Pharmacological Treatment

• Talking Therapies

• Social Activities

• Physical Activities

General Recovery Cycle

• Timing is Crucial • Too soon can be counter productive

• Diagnosis is Crucial • Depression

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Eating Disorders

Solutions

• Fieldhead Fit • 45 minute fitness sessions on site.

• Designed for mixed abilities

• Service users and staff.

• Parkrun

• Running / Sports Clubs

• Lower Intensity

Case Study – Kathy

• No history of exercise

• GP recommended structured exercise

• Joined an online group

• Set herself a goal

• “Direct correlation between activity

and mental health.”

• Made time to exercise

• Joined a “real world” group

• SLEEP – STRESS – DIET – EXERCISE

Case Study – Stephen

• Fieldhead in patient

• Attended first session • Shy and awkward

• Grew in confidence

• Social skills

• Physical ability

Case Study – Katie

• Competitive childhood swimmer

• Developed an eating disorder

• “Swim or be thin. Can’t do both.”

• Stopped exercising.

• Controlled the disorder

• Returned to sport

• “Swim or be thin. Can’t do both.”

Case Study – Andy

• Goals and Journeys • Couch to Triathlon. • Objective was to complete a sprint triathlon after a three month programme. • Think of a Satnav – start point, destination, and route. • Enjoy the journey from A to B.

• Result – Andy completed the triathlon • Had to walk part of it. • Doesn’t matter because he enjoyed the journey.

Hypothesis

• Physical exercise, applied at the right time and in the right way, aids recovery from some mental illnesses. • Advantages over non physical activity.

• Social vs solo.

• Tangible, measurable improvements.