The event follows Hafal’s National Physical Health Awareness Day which took place at Swansea University yesterday. Speaking on the key role exercise has played in her recovery from anxiety and depression Torfaen service user Cheryl Bennet, who swims and attends a gym once a week, said: “I definitely advocate exercise for mental health recovery. Since exercising, my back, which has given me problems in the past, feels better so exercising has helped with my physical recovery, too. I’ve also found that no matter how tired I am before going to the gym I always feel energised afterwards.
“I have a gym buddy and that’s helped give me confidence and motivation with my exercise programme. Eventually I hope to lose weight which will make me feel better about myself.
“I think that the more you exercise the better you feel mentally and physically. For me going to the gym has helped me get out more and meet people which has also been beneficial. I think exercise gives service users like me a good goal to work towards. I feel I have accomplished something at the end of each session, it gives me a really big boost.”
The aim of the campaign is to maximise the opportunities for recovery from serious mental illness which are provided by the draft Welsh Government Mental Health Strategy, “Together for Mental Health”, and the historic Mental Health (Wales) Measure. The Measure is hugely significant because it affords service users key new rights and has finally given users of secondary mental health services in Wales the legal right to a comprehensive holistic Care and Treatment Plan covering areas such as: accommodation; finance and money; and education and training.
The “Movin’ On Up” campaign is run by service users and carers and supported by mental health charities Hafal, Bipolar UK and the Mental Health Foundation. 22 weekly county events are taking place and the campaign will culminate in a climb of Wales’ highest peak, Snowdon, in September. The campaign will also feature an interactive stand at the Royal Welsh Show and, on World Mental Health Day, at the National Assembly.
For more pictures from the event and yesterday’s Sports Day please go to Hafal’s Facebook page.
For advice on improving your physical wellbeing please visit: http://www.hafal.org/hafal/whole_physical.php
For more information on the campaign please visit: www.hafal.org
To get the latest updates on Twitter please go to: http://twitter.com/#!/hafal_