Nuffield Health is partnering with Dame Kelly Holmes to increase understanding of the benefits physical activity has to help improve mental health.
The partnership comes at a time where the UK is facing unprecedented pressures on its collective mental health, with new Google data analysis showed that searches for ‘mental health support’ this year are 52 per cent higher than in 2019.
Data collected by Nuffield Health earlier this year found that 34 per cent of people said their emotional or mental health had worsened in the last year, and 32 per cent said their physical health had deteriorated.
New research from Nuffield Health’s Healthier Nation Index reveals that UK adults are doing an average of just 64 minutes of moderate exercise per week – less than half the NHS recommended amount. The North West is the most active at 71 minutes, with London lagging behind at just 59 minutes per week of exercise.
Only one in three (36 per cent) are aware that that the NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week for adults. Moderate exercise is defined as activity that raises your heart rate, for example brisk walking, dancing or riding a bike. Sixty per cent of adults say a lack of motivation is a barrier to exercising and a third (32 per cent) don’t know how to get started.
Following the findings, former Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes has partnered with Nuffield Health to tackle barriers to physical activity and to motivate and inspire the nation to move more for both body and mind.
She is supporting the charity’s Find 5 campaign to encourage people to take a small amount of time each day to do something for both their physical and mental health and to try a new exercise or sport.
“It’s so important we recognise the role exercise can play not only in improving our wellbeing but to also tackle the mental health crisis facing the country starting now,” said Dame Kelly.
“Just five minutes of movement can help give you purpose, focus and the ability to feel good about something every single day. Don’t do it for anyone else, do it for you. Be the person that calls your friend and asks them out for a walk, to an outdoor bootcamp or to the gym – it all makes a big difference.”
