Tony McLaren National Coordinator Breathing Space

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Tony McLarenNational CoordinatorBreathing Space
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Mentally.lets get Physical!

• Murrayfield Stadium April 2007

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UK Context

• 10 million working days were lost 2005/06 through
  stress, depression,anxiety.
• Taxpayers forking out 6billion

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Scotland

• 3.5m prescriptions for antidepressants (2006)
• 3x more than 13 years ago
• 40 more per head of the population
• 55m

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England

• 27.7m prescriptions for antidepressants in 2003
• 3x more than 12 years ago
• Cost 395.2m - 2083 rise over these years

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British Heart Foundation

• 23 April 07 Launch of campaign encouraging
  people to exercise daily
• Inactivity kills someone in the UK every 30 mins
• 170 billboards across Scotland

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(No Transcript)
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Mental Health Foundation Up and Running?
Exercise therapy and the treatment of mild or
moderate depression in primary care (July 2005)

• Key Findings - Antidepressants
• GPs 71 believe them to be quite effective
  but 57 state they are over prescribed
• 42 of GPs feel that most patients given
  antidepressants would be as likely to get better
  if they were given a placebo
• 60 of GPs would prescribe antidepressants less
  frquently if other treatment options were more
  available

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Exercise Therapy

• Very few patients are offered exercise therapy as
  treatment response for mild or moderate
  depression
• 1300 exercise referral schemes in UK
• 42 GPs report having referred to schemes across
  the UK
• 41 believe exercise therapy to be very
  effective for mild to moderate depression

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GPs

• 40 of GPs would try counselling first, 38
  would try antidepressants first, and 11 would
  try exercise first
• 42 of GPs would try exercise as one of their
  top three strategies if they became depressed

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Benefits of Physical Activity (Physical Activity
and Health Alliance PAHA)

• Improvement of Mood
• Reduced Anxiety
• Alleviation of Stress
• Enhanced self-perceptions
• Improved Sleep
• Improved psychological well-being

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Benefits of Physical Activity(contd.)

• Evidence is strongest for activity which lasts
  between 20 60 minutes
• However 10 15 minutes of moderate intensity
  walking positive changes in mood
• Brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming,
  dancing most effective
• Children with higher physical activity are more
  likely to have better cognitive functioning
• (www.healthscotland.com)

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Closing thoughts.

• There's probably a range of reasons why exercise
  helps people with depression.
• Exercise leads to an increased release of
  endorphins in the body. These chemicals may help
  combat depression and make us feel happier.
• Exercise helps us to get active and meet new
  people. This stops us from feeling isolated and
  unsupported.
• Exercise can give us new goals and a sense of
  purpose - we have something positive to focus on
  and aim for.
• Exercise can boost our self-esteem - it can
  improve the way we look and how we feel about
  ourselves.

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Currently-MHFS-Jog
Scotland-FEBA-Health Scotland-Choose Life
Initiatives-Breathing Space Outdoors
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Epilogue

• Metrosexuals!
• Glasgow University research (2007)
• Well groomed spending money on appearance have
  healthier hearts!
• Biophilia biologically-based attraction to
  nature. Being in and attracted to nature can
  itself provide MH benefits
• The Green Gym Building paths, gardening, dry
  stane dykeing, volunteer groups etc.

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Any Questions..