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Mental Health Awareness Week: Mindfulness in sport and physical activity

Every year, between 11-17 May, is Mental Health Awareness Week. Many organisations help to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues and this year, the Mental Health Foundation's theme covers Mindfulness. The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) recognises the importance that physical activity has on all our health and well-being. But our research shows that people with mental health issues are less engaged in sport and physical activity.

Every year, one-in-four of us will experience a mental health problem. Yet it is still something the majority of us do not talk about or address. Working together in sport, many organisations are looking to change this and here, we talk about just some of the programmes that exist to do just that.

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 Mental Health Awareness Week, 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.

Mindfulness is an integrative, mind-body based training that helps people to change the way they think and feel about their experiences - especially stressful experiences – and is recommended as a treatment for people with mental health problems.

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.

Get set to go

The national charity Mind has a great guide to physical activity. In partnership with Sport England, Mind created Get Set to  Go. The programme aims to improve the lives of 75,000 people with mental health problems through access to sport in their communities, thanks to support from Sport England and the National Lottery.

Eight of their local Minds will support local people to identify the right sport for them - they will also work with the sport sector to help remove the barriers that people living with mental health problems can face when wanting to take up a sport. Local minds will be delivering the programme starting in May 2015.

Starting this spring, people over the age of 18 who have a mental health problem can receive support so they feel more confident and can overcome the barriers that prevent them using sport and leisure facilities where they live. 

Mind will also be working nationally to raise awareness of the role that sport and physical activity has in keeping us well. They will be working closely with our Elefriends community to develop online material to support and inspire people to become more active through sport.   

Sport in mind

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 produced a promotional video. It shows people with mental health problems being active in sport and physical activity.

You can watch the video here.

Find out more about Sport in Mind on their website- http://sportinmind.org

The Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation

The Sport and Recreation Alliance want to use the power of the sport and recreation sector to make all our activities welcoming, positive and inclusive. That's why they alongside the Professional Players Federation and with support from the mental health charity Mind, have created the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation.

The Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation sets out how sport can use its collective power to tackle mental ill health and the stigma that surrounds it.

Alongside a number of player associations and NGBs who have already signed-up, we are asking for other sporting organisations to commit to take positive steps to address and encourage people to be open about mental health issues.

The Charter outlines five actions that we, as a sector, can take to help make mental health a commonly understood matter and to help those in need.

Sign up to their Charter and find out more here. 

Making active lives possible

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. 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.

The below documents may provide more information for your interest:


*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. Want to know all about Mindfulness and how you can get involved with Mental Health Awareness Week 2015? Find out everything you need to know including receiving your supporter pack and registering your event here.