Mental Health Awareness Week: Why we all need sport in our lives

inspiredthroughsport
May 18, 2018
3 min read

Georgie Bullen, GB Paralympian, wrote a blog for us recently on why we all need sport in our lives and the benefit to our mental health:

‘Some people will be reading this and thinking ‘This is completely irrelevant to me, I’m just not a sporty person’, but to them, I have to say that there really is a sport out there for everyone. I’m visually impaired and when I was younger, I felt I really wasn’t any good at sport, my mainstream school even advised me not to take GCSE P.E. as “we’re not sure you’d be able to handle it”, yet I have now represented my country in Goalball for over 7 years and am a GB Paralympian. So you can believe me when I say, it is simply about finding the right sport out there for you.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, which is a great opportunity to start conversations about mental health and strategies for creating a healthy mental state.

Now we all know that leading active lifestyles makes you physically healthier; it helps maintain a healthy weight, can help in the prevention of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even certain types of cancer. But many people forget about the benefits that sport has on your mental health as, at the very least, taking part in sport is a fantastic way to let off steam, unwind and leave the stresses of everyday life behind. as exercise increases endorphins, or the “feel good” chemicals in the body, improving mood and energy. Also, the sense of achievement experienced when you are successful or show improvement in whatever type of sport you choose can help to build confidence, self-worth and a sense of empowerment.

But even more than that, there’s very strong evidence that suggests that joining in with sport can be incredibly therapeutic to many serious mental health issues, including depression. The Royal College of Psychiatrists say

“If you keep active, you are: less likely to be depressed, anxious or tense; more likely to feel good about yourself; more likely to concentrate and focus better; more likely to sleep better; more likely to cope with cravings and withdrawal symptoms if you try to give up a habit, such as smoking or alcohol; possibly less likely to have problems with memory and dementia”

I don’t want you getting the impression that the only way to get active is by spending hours in the gym – which is great if that’s what you enjoy doing - but personally, I find endless running on a treadmill mind-numbingly boring! I think that this often puts people off of the idea of making their lifestyle healthier. Instead, why not do something you actually enjoy and find yourself a sport; join the local football team, find your local netball club, learn how to Box! By taking part in a sport that you like, you will find it far easier to stay motivated and embed activity into your lifestyle - and guess what, it is still exercise!’

We completely agree that sport can be a powerful tool in creating good mental health and feel that every workplace should encourage it, even if it’s just suggesting going for walks during lunch time, rather than eating at your desk.

If you’re wanting to inspire your workforce to get active, why not visit our business page to find out about our GB athlete visits, or contact us to arrange for one of our amazing athletes to visit your organisation!