I have been to excercise groups in a variety of different settings.
In hospital I was assessed by a physiotherapist there who assessed my physical limitations as well as taking into account my medications as some can have side effects that impair abilities, such as dizziness etc.
This was in a group setting and they had a good range of different equipment available, and i was taught various circuits or routines to keep me interested and work on different parts of the body. At the end as a group we then did relaxation. This was fantastic and really helped me feel better, I did feel more positive and it was nice to have others to talk to to whinge about aches and pains and motivate each other! The staff were great too, offering advice and suggestions on getting the most of your exercise.
A year ago my local mental health team set up various activities for me, they gave me the opportunity to join a walking group led by support workers which wasn't speed walking and lasted for an hour. This was great as i got to meet people and see my local areas that i hadn't visited before and be in touch with nature. Getting out in the open can often be hard for people with mental health illness and for myself so it was great to be out with supportive people and experience the elements of nature. Being out in the sun does seem to have positive benefits particulary for people suffering with depression.
I was also offered the opportunity to join a badminton group again in small groups once a week, where they hired the court at a local gym.
Following that they asked if i would like to join a gym again with a small group and this was great. My physical health and effects of medication were assessed by the gym and my GP and i was advised what i should do. Because it was organised by the mental health service we were offered great rates (I think our local mental health team are good hagglers and this particular gym was a public, not private one), i only had to pay a pound and could be there for the entire morning or afternoon. Again being with similar people to chat, whinge and motivate was great and of course there are opportunities of creating good and lasting friendships if you desire. Plus the gym was small, i think i would have felt intimidated in a large and busy gym.
In fact following that I joined a private gym and have barely gone in because they have really loud and deafening music (which some persons suffering with mental illness don't like) and it is large and intimidating, plus i go on my own so have no one to help motivate me.
My mental health team also run a gardening group at a local mental health centre, as well as being outside and getting excercise people were also motivated and delighted with the crops/plants they grew and were passionate about going!
I think if you are setting up a service like this some things need to be in place for it to be successful:
1) Liason with physios, GPs and mental health workers to assess clients needs and physical limitations and potential
2) Variety, we are all different and will prefer different forms of excercise
3) Good equipment/teaching/support/tools
4) Variety in group sizes. Some prefer very small/medium or larger groups
5) Having a range of outdoor/indoor pursuits
6) If there is a cost that it is nominal so that most can afford it
7) It may be wise (if it is not seen as discriminatory) to have one or two male or female only groups, as some people may not want to excercise with other sexes there, I believe my service don't offer this but i believe others do
The benefits of exercise for persons with mental health problems are well documented.
1) because alot of medications can leave you prone to being overweight, give you stiffness of the joints and other side effects that the right form of excercise can help you overcome
2) It helps you socialise which some people may find difficult or don't have alot of opportunity to do
3) excercise can release endorphins which can make you feel good and sometimes euphoric, thus aiding depression and other symptoms like pain (in fact one person i know who excercises to alleviate pain became a wheelchair olympic winner)
4) Outdoor pursuits give you the benefits of being in the sun helping you produce Vitamin D, sleep better and i believe help you produce serotonin a natural mood elevator
5) Exercise can help improve your sleep, something i struggle with and it does help.
I'm sure there are others!
Sorry I feel I have waffled, but i hope that helps!
…but I was also put off with the idea off being in a public place with a group of MH sufferers. More a refection of the stigma I place on my own MH problems and the idea of others finding out about it, than the others people who where likely to be there if I did attend.
