Top tips for using physical activity to improve your family’s mental wellbeing

February 4, 2020

This is a charity feature

In support of Children’s Mental Health Week (3-9 February 2020), the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, a charity working to equip young people with the skills to look after their mental wellbeing, has shared its top tips for encouraging your family to become more active and to experience the benefits of exercise for mental wellbeing.

Organised by Place2Be, Children’s Mental Health Week aims to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. A supporter of the initiative, the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust’s mission is to help people recognise the signs of depression in themselves and others, to equip young people to look after their mental wellbeing and to ensure expert help is available when needed.

Charlie Waller Memorial Trust’s top tips for using physical activity to improve your family’s mental wellbeing

A group of people standing in front of a crowd
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust fundraisers

Do what you enjoy

Research suggests that any type of physical activity can have a positive effect on mental health – so do what suits you and your children, and what you know you will all be happy and able to stick with. If a weekly family 5k run is out of the question, why not try a family dance class or a good old fashioned game of football? No time to go out? Try a YouTube exercise video in the living room. There are plenty of videos available and they can be a good way to get everyone involved.

Do it regularly

Whatever activity you choose, being consistent is important for maintaining the positive effects on your mental wellbeing. Set a day (or days) each week that your family can participate in the activity, hold each other accountable, and, importantly, look forward to it!

Do what you can

Three times a week is ideal, but if that feels like too much, just do what you can. Even a swift walk around the block will help boost activity levels and will give your children, and yourself, a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Go easy on yourself

If you or your family members are struggling with depression, you may tire easily – don’t worry, that’s normal. In addition, don’t expect mental health problems to be alleviated straight away. It can take some time, and you may need additional support alongside exercise.

Go at your own pace

It’s important that children understand that they may have different levels of physical fitness and ability from their siblings or school friends. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of competition, but it is important that children are encouraged to feel positive about their personal achievements, and to not compare themselves to others.

Just go for it

Exercise might help in just one area – perhaps improved levels of energy or sleep – or it may give you and your family an overall sense of achievement. Either way, it will be something to build on, can help bring your family closer together, and can help to prevent the development of mental health problems. 

A group of people in a park
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust fundraisers

What does the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust do?

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust trains and educates parents, teachers, and college and university staff to identify when a young person might be struggling and to offer the necessary first line support. The charity works with a network of over 40 highly skilled mental health trainers, who deliver training across the UK on a daily basis.

#RunForWellbeing

Earlier this year, Charlie Waller Memorial Trust launched its #RunForWellbeing initiative which aims to raise awareness and create a conversation around exercise and wellbeing by asking people to share personal stories on social media of how exercise has helped them with their mental health, using the #RunForWellbeing hashtag.

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