Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster (BWW) Mind is using the power of physical activity to tackle mental health problems with activities planned right here in Tooting.

On Monday 24 September, BWW Mind will be joining forces with organisations across England and Wales to take part in ‘Mindful Monday’ walking groups as part of the European Week of Sport in partnership with ukactive and Enable Leisure & Culture.

As well as promoting the benefits of physical activity for mental health all participants will be invited to participate in a variety of mindful activities on the day, which will take place at King George’s Park initially, then its dedicated Wellbeing Hub in Tooting.

Through this work, BWW Mind will be supporting people experiencing mental health problems, such as depression and bipolar disorder, to build their confidence to engage in physical activity, go to the gym, or take up a new sport such as swimming, walking for health and boxing, to name a few. There is good evidence to suggest that, as well as improving physical health, regular exercise can boost your mood, help beat stress and even reduce risk of depression.

Anyone interested in taking part in Mindful Monday should contact the Tooting Hub at cstreet@bwwmind.org.uk or by phone on 0207-259-8128. People who want to show their support for Mindful Monday online can use the #BeActive hashtag.

Christine Street, Tooting Hub Wellbeing Manager, said:

“We all have mental health just as we have physical health and the two are closely related to one another. We know that physical activity can play a vital role in the lives of people with mental health problems. Research even suggests that regular activity can reduce the risk of depression by up to 30%. We’re really excited to be involved in Mindful Monday and to encourage more people with mental health problems to get engaged with physical activity.

The types of activity on offer include a scenic walk through Wandsworth’s beauty spots, followed by talks on health and nutrition, and a delicious buffet lunch. If you’re interested in getting involved please do get in touch!”

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About BWW Mind

Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster (BWW) Mind is a mental health charity that believes no one should have to face a mental health problem alone. They are here for you. Today. Now. They’re on your doorstep, on the end of a phone or online. Whether you’re stressed, depressed or in crisis. They’ll listen, give you support and advice, and fight your corner. And they’ll push for a better deal and respect for everyone experiencing a mental health problem.

www.bwwmind.org.uk

About the Get Set to Go Project

Get Set to Go is England’s first large scale programme to help people with mental health problems overcome the barriers to taking up a sport so they feel more confident about participating. The project has been designed in collaboration with people living with mental health problems and offers group peer support, taster sessions and structured programmes to help people make physical activity part of their everyday lives.

Mind, the mental health charity, funds Get Set to Go and has secured £3 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England, since the programme was launched in 2014.

Mind will also be working closely with partners to deliver community sessions and to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment within local sport and leisure facilities. As part of this work, they will be offering free Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity (MHASPA) training to sport sector staff, which has been developed with UK Coaching.

www.mind.org.uk/sport

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