Get active this January to help your own mental wellbeing

With lockdown three taking its toll on our mental health, St Andrew’s Healthcare is today getting behind Sport in Mind’s ‘Red January’ campaign, which aims to get the nation moving, to help people’s mental wellbeing.

Whether you run, swim, cycle, or choose your favourite fitness activity, people can set their own goals and enjoy support from the RED community every step, splash and pedal of the way! Any funds raised will go towards providing more support for mental health.

Sian is a former patient at St Andrew’s Healthcare and was discharged from our care last January. Despite the challenges that the past year has brought she has made good progress and is now an employed member of staff here. She says one of the things which has got her through the last year has been focusing on exercise and activity to help her mental health.

“Since leaving St Andrew’s last year ago exercise, and running in particular, has helped keep me so much and boosted my mental health. It has given me a purpose to get up and go out in the morning. So much so that I am now well enough to hold down a job, which I never thought would happen so soon.”

“At this current time support for mental health is even more vital for many people and participation in sport and exercise can really make a difference,” she added.

Sian is now joining of thousands of other people this January to raise more awareness about the benefits of exercise and mental health. She, along with her family, are trying to raise some money for Sport in Mind doing things like High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts over Skype for those of who can’t get together. Sian also ran a marathon in three days a few months ago and raised £300 for Sport in Mind.

You can get involved and by visiting Red January’s Just Giving page, or further information is on the Red January website.