What is Mental Health Month?
Mental health month provides the opportunity to discuss and think about mental health and wellbeing and raise the awareness about supports that can be utilised and reduce stigma around mental health.
Prevalence and Impact of Mental Health
The World Health Organisation defines mental health as ‘a state of wellbeing where an individual can cope with life’s stressors, realises their potential, works productively and contributes to their community.’ Moreover, it influences how an individual, thinks, feels and acts.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing (2025), in the past 12 months:
- 1 in 5 Australians aged between 16 and 85 years experienced a mental health disorder.
- 17% of Australians experienced an anxiety disorder.
- 1 in 7 children and adolescents, aged between four and 1 years experienced a mental illness.
How Exercise can assist in promoting improvements in Mental Health
Engaging in regular physical activity has been demonstrated to be beneficial in facilitating overall improvements in psychological wellbeing, particularly when utilised as an adjunct therapy.
Decreasing symptoms associated with Anxiety and Depression
Studies indicate that exercise participation has a marked ‘antidepressant effect’ in individuals. This is due to physical activity participation promoting overall improvements in quality to life, boosting self-esteem and facilitating the release of endorphins and serotonin. A systematic review conducted, and meta-analysis, found that participating in exercise led to moderate effects on depression either alone or as an adjunct therapy. Moreover, this study indicated that the most beneficial modalities of exercise were walking, jogging or strength training for those with depression (Noetel et al. 2024). Another systematic review and meta-analysis found that aerobic exercise participation in those with anxiety resulted in significant reductions in symptoms, noting that higher intensity programs resulted in greater anxiety reducing effects when compared with low intensity programs (Aylett et al., 2018).
Improved sleep quality
Reduced sleep quality is commonly correlated to reduced psychological wellbeing and can also lead to further reductions in mental health. Studies show that improving sleep quality can lead to overall improvements in depression, anxiety and stress (Scott et al., 2021). Participating in regular physical activity has been linked to improving overall sleep quality and fatigue levels, thus assisting in boosting overall mood.
Enhancing community engagement in social connections
Studies have demonstrated that engaging in outdoor physical activity can boost enthusiasm, self-esteem and lower depression and fatigue levels following walking outside (Better Health Victoria, 2021). Moreover, engaging in activities such as group classes, walking with a friend or a team sport can assist in improving overall mood, reduce feeling of isolation and enhance social connections. It has been demonstrated that a feeling of belonging to a group of people who share common interests can lower depression and anxiety, improve stress management and enhance emotional support (Cruwys et al., 2013).
How can an Exercise Physiologist help?
Exercise Physiologists can provide individuals with a goal-based, individualised
exercise program, provide support to assist in improving overall psychologist
wellbeing through aiding those with mental health conditions to engage in regular
physical activity that is meaningful.
Written By Uplift EP, Mykaila Walls