Our physical and mental health are closely linked
Historically, mental health has been treated as a completely separate issue to physical health. Here, Sara Moseley, director of Mind Cymru, explains why it’s vital to treat the two in tandem.
WE ALL know how important it is to look after our physical health – and more people are now understanding the need to look after their mental health as well.
The links between the two are becoming ever clearer. Taking better care of your body is a powerful way of achieving better mental health.
Conversely, poor physical health – especially chronic, long-term conditions – take a toll on mental health.
The potential this knowledge brings to achieving the vision set out by the Welsh Government in their new plan for Health and Social Care published last month – one of people leading “healthier, happier lives . . . active and independent in our own homes” – is immense.
Physical health and mental health are closely linked and physical activity can be very beneficial for our mental health and wellbeing too.
Some mental health problems might stop us from getting enough sleep, or make it harder to keep active and eat healthily.
Equally, experiencing physical health problems can lead to anxiety, low mood or depression.
We also know that those of us with mental health problems are less likely to get support with things connected to our physical health, like stopping smoking or managing our diet.
When you exercise you release “feelgood” hormones called endorphins which help reduce negative feelings and improve your mood.
Exercise also reduces levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone”, which has been linked to a range of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
Some people find that exercise helps to break up racing thoughts.
As the body tires so does the mind, leaving you calmer and better able to think clearly.
Simply taking time out to exercise can also give people the space to think things over and help clear the mind.
If you’re more active there’s good evidence to suggest that at most ages, for both men and women, there’s a trend towards lower rates of depression.
In fact, 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 up to 20%.
Outdoor exercise can be particularly beneficial. The colours, sounds and smells we find outdoors stimulate our senses in a way that the gym might not and so exercising outdoors can be better than working out inside.
Gardening, going for walks and other outdoor hobbies like bird watching provide a great alternative to traditional sports.
Being surrounded by nature can boost your overall mood and if you can do it with other people, so much the better – being in regular social contact with people can help boost your self-esteem and reduce loneliness.
Mind commissioned two studies carried out by the University of Essex in 2007, which found that participating in green exercise activities provides substantial benefits for health and wellbeing.
We found that 90% of people who took part in Mind green exercise activities (walking, gardening, “green gyms” and other outdoor exercise) said that the combination of nature and exercise was most important in determining how they feel.
And 94% said that green exercise activities had benefited their mental health.
While all forms of exercise can bring benefits for mental wellbeing, the most important thing is to find a type of activity you love and can stick at.
A team sport might be best for you if you value a strong social element, while if you prefer time to yourself an activity like running might work better. Don’t feel that you have to persevere with something that’s not working for you.
There are hundreds of activities you can do, and you’re much more likely to keep doing it if it’s fun.
Having a long-term physical health condition such as diabetes or chronic pain can make our mental health worse.
A recent survey by Mind Cymru found that three in five people with arthritis developed depression as a result of their condition.
Those of us who have these problems will have better outcomes if both our physical and mental health is addressed but of course, being physically active is easier for some people than for others.
People with long-term physical health conditions such as arthritis or back problems can find the constant pain they are experiencing makes it very difficult to keep physically active in any way let alone getting out to exercise.
For most of us, our local GP practice is the first place we’ll go when we need help. It’s there to help us with our mental health as well as our physical health.
Appointments are short, but it’s important that you and your doctor talk about your health as a whole – treating mental and physical health together will help us to get the support we need to stay well.
■ For more information about your physical and mental health visit www.mind.org.uk or call our Infoline on 0300 123 3393.