“Activities that involve relaxation and meditation (yoga, pilates, Feldenkrais, chi ball and Nia etc) should also be considered”

Having said this, reductions in depression have been reported from various exercise modalities, with running and walking being those most frequently used and studied. There is also evidence of benefits from other modes of training, such as weight training and skipping and participation in sports, such as raquetball (5).

Activities that involve relaxation and meditation (Yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais, chi ball and Nia etc) should also be considered for the benefits brought about by the potential mindfulness (6) promoted through these approaches.

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) forecasting that depression will be second only to coronary heart disease as the leading contributor to the global burden of disease by the year 2020 (7) and with the cost of prescriptions for mental health conditions rising (8) indicate that In 2005, doctors in England wrote 29 million prescriptions for anti-depressants that cost the NHS £400m. Friedl and Parsonage (9) indicate that the cost of mental illness in Wales was estimated at £7,233 million in 2007 (8). Exercise and physical activity can, and should, be considered for both its preventative and therapeutic effects (10).

As Malcom Ward quoted: “the case for non-pharmaceutical interventions including increasing physical activity is imperative if we are to begin to address this personally and socially devastating public health issue”.

References and recommended further reading 1,2 +5. Biddle, S, Fox, K & Boutcher, S. Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being. London and New York. Routledge 2000. 1+5. Faulkner, G and Taylor. A. Exercise, Health and Mental Health. Emerging Relationships. Oxon. UK. Routledge 2005. 3. Mental Health Foundation Mental Health Problems 2010. UK. Mental Health Foundation. Accessed from: http://bit.ly/ih80H3 (Accessed on 6th September 2010) 2+5. Leith, Larry M. Foundations of Exercise and Mental Health. Morgantown. USA. Fitness Information Technology 1994 4. Bird W Natural Thinking, RSPB 2007. www.rspb.org.uk/policy/health 6. Mental health Foundation. Mindfulness Report. UK. Mental Health Foundation 2010 7. Mental Health Foundation. Fundamental facts. UK. Mental Health Foundation 2007 8.Wilkinson R & Pickett K. The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone. Penguin Books 2010 9. Friedli L & Parsonage M. Promoting mental health and preventing

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mental illness: the economic case for investment in Wales. All Wales Mental Health Promotion Network. October 2009 10. Department of Health. At Least Five a Week. Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health. A report from the Chief Medical Officer. London. Department of Health 2004.

T D

THE AUTHORS

Debbie Lawrence MA (Director, Fitness Wales) & Sarah Bolitho MSc ( De

tal health.

ah Bolitho MSc (Curriculum & Business D velopment, Fitness Wales) are published authors in the area of physical activity for mental health. Their book ‘Exercising your way to Health: Stress’ will be available for the general public in January 2011. Their next book, ‘The Complete Guide to Physical Activity for Persons with Mental Health Conditions’, targeted at exercise professionals who wish

al public in

book, ‘ or

to work in this specialist area will be available in August 2011. Both books are published by A & C Black.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON-LINE TO EARN CPD POINTS Please log in to the members area of the REPs website to give your answers

Q1 Q2 Q3 ONS

According to Wilkinson and Picket (2010), how many prescriptions for anti-depressants were written by Doctors in England in 2005? a) 2 million

b) 20 million c) 29 million

How many people experience mental health conditions? a) One in every two people b) One in every four people c) One in every eight people

Which of the following mental healthconditions is most prevalent? a) Anorexia nervosa b) Mixed anxiety and depression c) Schizophrenia

The REPS Journal 2011;20(March):16-18