Mental Health

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Mental Health

It's well known that regular exercise is good for our bodies – and there's good evidence that it can help improve our mental wellbeing too.

An Overview of Mental Health

Physical activity has a huge potential to enhance our wellbeing. It also plays a role in preventing the development of mental health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental health problems.

MIND's online information about getting started with physical activity can help people with mental health problems better understand how sport and exercise can improve their physical and mental health – and overcome some common barriers.

Deciding what's safe for you, how hard you should push yourself and finding the right sport or activity can be difficult when you've got a mental health problem. And we can all struggle finding the motivation to be active.

Benefits

Mood: when asked to rate their mood immediately after periods of physical activity (going for a walk, doing housework) and periods of inactivity (reading a book, watching television), participants felt more content, more awake and calmer after being physically active.When you exercise, your brain chemistry changes through the release of endorphins (or 'feel good' hormones), which can calm anxiety and lift your mood.

Stress: when events occur that make us feel threatened or upset, our body's defences cut in and create a stress response, which may make us feel a variety of uncomfortable physical symptoms. These symptoms are triggered by a rush of stress hormones – the fight or flight response. Adrenaline and noradrenaline raise our blood pressure, increase our heart rate and increase the rate at which we perspire. This causes us to feel stress. Physical activity is a good output for relieving these symptoms and consequently relieving stress.

Self-esteem: how we feel about ourselves and how we perceive our self-worth is a key indicator of our mental wellbeing and our ability to cope with life stressors. Physical activity has been shown to have a positive influence on our self-esteem and self-worth. When you start to see your fitness levels increase and your body improve, it can give your self-esteem a big boost. The sense of achievement you get from learning new skills and achieving your goals can help you feel better about yourself and lift your mood.

Depression and anxiety: physical activity is increasingly used as an alternative treatment for depression. It can also reduce levels of anxiety in people with mild symptoms and may also be helpful for treating clinical anxiety.One study has found that by increasing your activity levels from doing nothing to exercising at least three times a week, you can reduce your risk of depression by almost 20%.

Social and Emotional Benefits: being around other people is good for our mental health and social networks, plus you can maximise the benefits of exercising by doing it with other people. Lots of us enjoy being active because it's fun. Researchers have shown that there's a link between the things we enjoy doing and improvements in our wellbeing overall.

Don't forget the physical benefits too. Being physically active can reduce your risk of some diseases, improve the health of your organs and bones, help you to maintain a healthy weight and give you more energy.

Involvement

Quick tips for being more active - Watch the video for five ways to get moving and feel better.

Find Mental Health Clubs/Groups Near You

Use the search below to find local organisations near you.

Contact your local Physical Activity, Health & Wellbeing Team

Across Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland the Physical Activity, Health & Wellbeing Teams are providing opportunities to support you to become more active.

Steps4Health

Receive a tailored walking plan to help you increase your daily steps at a pace that works for you. For anyone 18+ wanting to become more active or living with a long-term health condition such as dia

Let's Get Moving: Healthy Spring!

For inspiration and opportunities to get you moving more throughout Spring!

National Governing Bodies

MIND

Contact Name
MIND
Contact Email
contact@mind.org.uk
Contact Telephone
020 8519 2122
Leicester Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Centre

Leicester Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Centre

Leicester Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Centre is a voluntary organisation established to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Mental Health Matters

Mental Health Matters

Mental Health and Wellbeing Recovery Service. Supporting people in Charnwood, North-West Leicestershire, Hinkley and Bowsworth, Melton and Rutland.

Woodgate Adventure Playground

Woodgate Nursery is based on the Woodgate Adventure Playground on the Rally Park. We offer places for children aged 2-4 years.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park was the city's race course until 1883, the park now has thoughtfully laid out pathways shaded by avenues of trees dividing its 69 acres of open parkland.

Includes an Outdoor Gym.

Leicester Community Links cic

We are a not for profit community company based in Leicester.

Leicester City Football Club Community Trust

Leicester City Football Club Community Trust

Leicester City in the Community (LCitC) is an independent, registered charity. LCitC harnesses the power of football to inspire individuals to achieve their full potential.

Andrew Hill Personal Training

Andrew Hill Personal Training

Personalised fitness coaching service specialising in nutrition and weight management. 

Cossington Street Sports Centre

Cossington Street Sports Centre

Cossington Street Sports Centre has a 30m swimming pool, gym, sauna facilities and a floodlit outdoor ball court.

Siamsa Dancers Leicester

Siamsa Dancers Leicester

A dance group who meet on a Sunday evening 7.30pm to 10.00pm to dance Irish ceili, sets, waltz, quick step, jive. £2 charge for hall hire and light refreshments. No dance experience required. Learns steps and movements as you progress.

Spinney Hill Park

Created in 1885, Spinney Hill Park is a popular park with 34 acres of sloping parkland with walks under shady tree avenues, playgrounds and ball courts..

Includes and Outdoor Gym.

Falcons All Stars

Falcons All Stars

We are involved in a brand new campaign to get girls playing sports and our founder Kausar Sacranie has launched her Grassroots Basketball team ‘The Falcons All Stars’ to help support our school projects across the UK and help Girls into sports and he

Leicester Learning Disabilities Sports Club

Leicester Learning Disabilities Sports Club

multi sports learning disabilities sports club where we deliver multiple different sports sessions weekly with sessions aim at being active, fun, engaging and friendly

We are looking to gain new members to join our membership core we already have this

New Parks Leisure Centre

New Parks Leisure Centre

New Parks Leisure Centre offers activities in our swimming pools and squash courts.

Braunstone Park

The 168 acres of Braunstone Park are a reminder of Braunstone’s pastoral heritage with large areas of well-established open parkland, woodlands spinneys and meadows.

Includes Outdoor Gym Equipment.

The Winstanley School

The Winstanley School

Widening horizons and enabling excellence.

Dallaglio RugbyWorks

We delver sport sessions and mentoring to young people during the school day, holidays and evening. This includes delivering workshops to provide young people with important life skills.  

First Contact Plus

First Contact Plus

Your First Contact for Information Advice and Support in Leicestershire

Leicester Croquet Club

Leicester Croquet Club

Social and competitive croquet at Monks Rest Gardens in Old Humberstone, Leicester. The season usually runs from late April to early October. The Club is well equipped and has a clubroom in the adjacent park pavilion.

Knighton Park

This beautiful and popular 78 acre park has become one of the city's most popular feature.

Includes an Outdoor Gym.

Evington Park

Once a private estate with a large house built in 1836 Evington Park was opened as a public park in 1946.

Tudor Grange Samworth Academy

Tudor Grange Samworth Academy is an all through school. We have a wide range of sporting opportunities for all students in the Primary and Secondary phases. The school also welcomes the community as we take bookings in the evenings and weekends.

Weekly fitness group

Weekly fitness group

We provide weekly sessions such as Zumba , yoga , boxfit and meditation.

Golden Games

Golden Games

Traditional games combined with physical activity!

More Results
Women's Menopause and Mental Health Support Session

Women's Menopause and Mental Health Support Session

Women's Menopause and Mental Health support session delivered by Vitahealth.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Syston Menopause Cafe

Join Menopause Champion, Tracey at her Syston Menopause Cafe on May 1st.

Multi Sport Coach (part time 15hrs)

We are seeking an experienced sports coach to deliver our award-winning sports and educational programmes for adults and young people. The purpose of this role is to provide, supportive, accessible and welcoming sport and activity sessions for people experiencing mental health challenges, deliver physical activity focused workshops for young people and promoting the work of Sport In Mind, while representing the charity's values and ethos.