Every year on April 23, we celebrate World Infant, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health Day (WICAMHD). It’s a day to talk about something incredibly important—how kids, teens, and even babies feel on the inside. Mental health isn’t just something adults deal with; it starts early, and it matters just as much as physical health.
What is WICAMHD All About?
WICAMHD is all about raising awareness and showing support for young people’s mental health. The goal is to:
- Help more people understand the mental health challenges young people face
- Encourage early support and reduce the shame or stigma around asking for help
- Promote better access to care, support systems, and healthy habits—like exercise!
Why Exercise Is So Good for Your Mental Health
You probably already know that exercise is good for your body—but did you know it’s just as good for your mind?
Based on recent research, here’s how moving your body can help your brain:
- Less Stress and Sadness: Exercise helps lower anxiety and symptoms of depression—even in kids and teens. In fact, studies show that regular movement (like walking, biking, dancing, or playing sports) can reduce the chances of feeling low or stressed out.
- Better Mood and Focus: Being active boosts chemicals in your brain like serotonin and dopamine, which help you feel happier and more focused. It also improves memory and helps you think more clearly.
- More Confidence and Energy: The more you move, the stronger you feel—not just physically, but emotionally too. Exercise can make you feel more confident, more in control, and more motivated.
Tips to Make Exercise Part of Everyday Life
Whether you’re a young person, parent, teacher, or coach, here are a few simple ways to make physical activity part of your daily routine:
- Start Early: Getting into a habit of moving your body from a young age helps you build lifelong mental and physical strength.
- Make it Fun and Personal: You don’t need to go to the gym—dance, skate, play basketball, or even go for walks. Do what feels fun for you
- Get Support: Parents, teachers, and mental health professionals should work together to make sure kids and teens have access to safe and supportive ways to stay active.
- Keep Learning: Scientists are still discovering new ways exercise helps with mental health. But what we already know is clear: movement matters.
In a Nutshell
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and exercise is one of the best tools we must support both. Whether it’s running, swimming, yoga, or just kicking a ball around with friends, moving your body helps clear your mind, boost your mood, and build resilience.
Written By Uplift EP, Annalise Norton
References:
World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day (WICAMHD), click here
Exercise interventions in child and adolescent mental health care: An overview of the evidence and recommendations for implementation, click here
Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses: Exercise Effects on Depression in Children and Adolescents, click here
Role of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in the Mental Health of Preschoolers, Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, click here
