Mental Health gets boost in leadup to London's Olympics games

On the 16th March over 200 mental health clinicians will be taking part in an event to raise the awareness of sport on not just health, but mental health as well. With the National Health Services program to Improve Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and 500 million pounds allocated to training of new mental health service providers to help people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. It is hoped the Olympics will raise awareness of the benefits of exercise on health

Mental Health Gets Boost in London’s Olympic Legacy Planning | Psychology Today

200+ psychologists ... will be learning while they run, reading signs along the course that discuss exercise benefits and motivational strategies. For example:

• Regular exercise is linked to less depression, anxiety, hostility, and stress, and greater well-being.
• Exercise interventions have been shown to be efficacious for even treatment-resistant depression.
• Exercise is also a way to improve memory and attention...and for children, a pathway to better grades in school.
• You don't need grueling workouts: Moderate exercise (where you can talk comfortably while exercising) is enough for mood benefits.
• Start slow, and work up to more energetic workouts. Treatment trials often started with just 10 minutes of walking for sedentary individuals.
• 40 minutes of moderate exercise, 4 times a week, is a great goal.
• Rather than relying on self-control effort to exercise, use your environment to change your motivation. Combine your motivations: Exercise + Music + Friend = a fun exercise time.
• Deciding not to exercise when in a bad mood is like deciding not to take an aspirin when you have a headache.