MENTAL HEALTH
Better mental health education gives staff more confidence. If
someone’s brave enough to take a step through the door, every staff
member they encounter could make or break
whether they come back
they concluded that it wasn’t fancy machines or yoga studios but the human factor: staff knowing members’ names and greeting them with a friendly smile. The research didn’t specifi cally address a mental health population, but as Heal points out, this positive social interaction would be even more crucial for someone feeling anxious or depressed, or lacking self-esteem. Owen believes there needs to be
more commitment from operators to train staff on mental health: “When we were running BALP, none of the local clubs or leisure centres came to ask us for training – it was always us going to them to offer it,” he says. “Better mental health awareness and education give staff more confi dence. And it’s not just the instructors and coaches – it’s all staff. If someone’s been brave enough to take a step through the door, every staff member they encounter could make or break whether they come back.” Dr Kitrina Douglas, a researcher in exercise, health and sport at the
Case study:
The Bristol Active Life Project The Bristol Active Life Project (BALP) was set up in 2005 to bring the benefits of physical activity to those with severe and enduring mental health problems. The idea was sparked when mental health staff within a Bristol hospital began providing gym sessions for people hospitalised with conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. “Originally, it was more about occupying time than any
perceived health benefi ts,” says Mark Owen, former physical activity development offi cer for mental health at Bristol City Council. “But when reductions in BMI, increases in lean body mass and a reduction in medication were noted, it was clear that extending its provision would be worthwhile.” The project received local authority support and funding
from the Football Foundation to provide facilities and coaches, and train those involved in delivering the exercise
sessions. In the three years between 2009 and 2012, more than 900 referrals were made and BALP was running 20 sessions a week, from fi ve-a-side football to martial arts, gym classes and badminton. The project’s funding ceased in 2013, but many of the classes it spawned now run independently. There’s still a referral process – not anyone can turn up at one of the sessions – but the ‘net’ of referrals is much wider, including GPs and mental health support workers. “We succeeded in getting people out of their homes and into
the sessions,” says Owen. “When you think of the barriers that exist for people with mental health issues – poor self- esteem, bad experiences of sport/exercise in the past, lack of energy – it demonstrates the impact of what we provided.”
Details:
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/health-and-adult- care/bristol-active-life-project-balp
58 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital www.bristol.gov.uk/page/health-and-adult-care/bristol-active-life-project-balp June 2014 © Cybertrek 2014
One in four people has, or has had, a mental health condition – yet gyms don’t address this
University of Bristol, was involved in evaluating BALP, interviewing participants and staff. “Education is really important,” she agrees. “For many of those we interviewed, medication made morning classes diffi cult – just getting up and out was a much bigger deal than it is for most of us. Staff didn’t
always understand what a big effort it could be even to get to the venue.” Many of the instructors connected
to BALP took the exercise referral course Physical Activity for Persons with Mental Health Conditions, which looks in depth at specifi c conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and post-
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92