Sir Chris peddles sporting therapy

Olympic hero launches exercise scheme

Olympic gold medal winner Sir Chris Hoy has helped launch a new partnership between the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Sportscotland to offer training to 400 active school co-ordinators.

The initiative, which was launched on World Mental Health Awareness Day, has been established to help young people through physical activity and sport.

Sir Chris, Scotland’s most successful Olympian with six gold medals, is celebrating 10 years as an SAMH ambassador.

He met Sportscotland’s active schools co-ordinators who will benefit from the programme by learning practical ways of monitoring and managing mental health through their work in schools.

The record-breaking cyclist launched Get Active, the first sport and physical activity campaign by SAMH, in 2009 and has spent the last decade boosting the charity’s efforts to tackle barriers that prevent people with mental health problems from improving their physical fitness.

He said “I’m proud to mark 10 years as an SAMH ambassador by launching a new partnership that will help the next generation of young people have better mental health through physical activity.

“I have experienced some of the biggest highs in sporting history, but there have been low points along the way as well.

“During those low moments, it was cycling that gave me the strength to keep going.

“I’m a real believer in the link between physical activity and good mental health, because I know how my mood and my wellbeing can be affected if I don’t manage to get out on my bike regularly.”

The new scheme has been endorsed by SAMH, which is striving to create greater links with sports groups across Scotland.

Chief executive Billy Watson said: “We are thrilled at this strategic partnership with Sportscotland which we believe could be a major breakthrough in building the mental health and wellbeing capacities within sports and their organisations.”

Stewart Harris, his counterpart at Sportscotland, said: “Young people have told us how they sometimes feel participation isn’t for them, especially when they are facing challenges, but they have also shared incredible stories of how sport has turned their lives around through a teacher or active schools co-ordinator.

“That’s why we are working with SAMH to deliver mental health training in schools and communities right across Scotland.”

Picture courtesy of Lenny Warren / Warren Media BALL POINT: Sir Chris Hoy says he believes there is a link between physical exercise and good mental health.