Communities Should Use Physical Activity as an Intervention for Mental Problems

¶ … Callaghan, points out that exercise has been used for many years to prevent disease, promote good health and a sense of well-being. Callaghan asserts in the article that current evidence shows "empirical" evidence that mental health and well-being are enhanced through the use of frequent exercise. The author uses an intensive literature search -- meta-analyses in peer-reviewed publications like the British Medical Journal and Clinical Evidence -- to verify the assertion that exercise aids mental health and psychological functioning.

Callaghan's research uncovered a study -- that utilized qualitative research methods -- showing that a 10-week exercise program given to people with schizophrenia actually "reduced participants' perception of auditory hallucinations," heightened their sense of self-esteem and helped their sleep patterns (Callaghan, 2004, 480). On page 481 Callaghan admits that "on the whole" mental health professionals don't use exercise as a "therapeutic tool"; however, psychologist Kate Hays has been using exercise with her clients for more than 25 years, and strongly recommends that practitioners use regular exercise on patients with mental health problems. Several other examples are offered to show that when mental health patients are involved in regular exercise, they benefit. In the UK, people living with mental illness exercise in the Community Gym in Barrow-in-Furness; a client that was struggling with low self-esteem (during childhood this person suffered physical and emotional abuse) engaged in a running program at the Gym and "improved her competence and sense of control" (Callaghan, 481).

Reactions

I totally accept the findings of Callaghan because I have had experience working with people suffering from depression in a nursing home environment; when these patients take brisk walks on a regular basis they are happier and they get along better with their peers. I was an "orderly" in a nursing home and had no authority -- nor did I have any special training -- but I took some of the patients (some had endured shock treatments) on walks when the weather was nice; and their attitudes were noticeably better after the exercise. Even though the article is twelve years old, the research that Callaghan conducted shows that exercise has been used in numerous instances for many years. This article is not a revelation because, as mentioned, exercise has been used as an intervention in mental health cases for many years. Research published by the Clinical Psychology Science and Practice journal on a large study in Finland reports that individuals who exercised two to three times a week "experienced significantly less depression" (Stathopoulou, 2006).

Application

Programs are already in existence that embrace exercise as a therapeutic intervention for mental health-related problems. But these programs could be expanded and used by community mental health centers. When a person comes into see a psychologist and complains of boredom, depression, loss of appetite and also mentions personality conflicts with family and peers, the psychologist should involve that person in some kind of activity before going into other interventions. For example, if the community center has a recreation area where people can shoot baskets, toss Frisbees, or play catch with a softball, the psychologist would be wise to say, "Before we talk, let's go out back and shoot some baskets." Engaging in mild exercise in this way also presents an opportunity for the psychologist and the new patient to bond, which will be helpful later when they sit down to talk.