Page 61 - RPA May 2020

“At the frontline of healthcare, GPs are best placed to employ social prescribing to help improve their patients’ health and wellbeing,” RACGP President
Dr Harry Nespolon said.
Mental health struggles should in no
way be undermined. Many programs have been created and much advice offered in terms of living an active lifestyle – all in the name of exercising the soul.
The science behind feeling good
Many who begin exercising and training focus on the physical differences it makes.
However, a study by the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the US city of Boston found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26 per cent (Robinson L, et al, 2019).
Exercising promotes changes in
the brain, including neural growth,
a reduction in inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and wellbeing. It also releases endorphins, which are powerful chemicals in the brain that energise the spirit (Robinson L, et al, 2019).
Exercise also serves as a distraction, allowing people to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression (Robinson L, et al, 2019).
Prescribing physical activity
A survey of almost 3000 health professionals reveals that a significant number (68 per cent) are prescribing ‘parkrun’ to their patients.
Parkrun is an organisation that holds free, weekly, five kilometre runs in various locations around the world. They are open to everyone and take place in pleasant parkland surroundings (Parkrun, 2020).
Motivations for prescribing parkrun are said to include:
• Improving fitness (91 per cent).
• Improving wellbeing (78 per cent).
• Making friends (56 per cent).
• Empowering people to manage their
health (53 per cent).
• Improving social connectivity
(51 per cent).
• Exposure to nature (47 per cent). • Increasing self-confidence
(43 per cent).
• Reducing loneliness (37 per cent). “This survey supports strong anecdotal evidence that parkrun is increasingly being used by health professionals as
a non-medical referral option that can operate alongside existing treatments to improve the health and wellbeing of patients,” parkrun Australia’s Health and Wellbeing Lead Glen Turner said.
Spotlight on ...
In the November issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants, we spoke to Youth Development Coordinator, YMCA of Brisbane Jayden Parsons on the mYnd-pump program, dedicated to youth mental health intervention.
The 10-week fitness program promotes a healthy mind, by allowing youth to participate in a variety of physical activities, surrounded by like-minded people.
“Mental health issues are massive within society,” Mr Parsons said.
“For so long we’ve operated very reactively in this space and people typically only seek help when they’re at or near breaking point.”
Providing people with a space to exercise and partake in fitness activities is a valuable part of the preventative approach.
“We naturally talk about our physical health,” Mr Parsons said. “If we’re physically unwell, we call in sick from work, see a doctor, we do whatever is necessary to improve this, because we know that if we don’t, it will [probably] get worse. Mental health is the
exact same.”
Reference list:
1. Health direct, 2018. ‘Mental illness’. Accessed 20/2/20. Healthdirect.gov.au/mental-illness
2. Retail Pharmacy Assistants, 2020. ‘Patients want more social prescribing’. Accessed 20/2/20. rpassistants.com.au/health-lifestyle/patients-want- more-social-prescribing/
3. Robinson L, Segal J, Smith M. ‘The mental health benefits of exercise’, 2019. Accessed 20/2/20. helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental- health-benefits-of-exercise.htm
4. Parkrun, 2020. Parkrun Australia.
Accessed 20/2/20. parkrun.com.au/
5. Retail Pharmacy Assistants, 2020. ‘Run for
health’. Accessed 20/2/20. rpassistants.com.au/ news/run-for-health/
6. Retail Pharmacy Assistants, 2020. ‘Don’t let the heat get you beat’. Accessed 20/2/20. rpassistants. com.au/health-lifestyle/dont-let-the-heat-get-you-beat/
BODY & SOUL 59
“Exercising promotes
changes in the brain,
including neural growth,
a reduction in inflammation,
and new activity patterns
that promote feelings of
calm and wellbeing.”
Other activities for wellbeing
Accredited Exercise Physiologist Kate Battocchio says it’s important to be as active as possible.
She suggests:
• Becoming one with nature: bush walks, mountain hikes, walks along the beach, visiting a waterfall/lookout/lake.
• Water activity: visiting a local pool, rock pool, waterhole or dam for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking or canoeing.
• Working out around the house: washing the car, yard work, resistance training using bands/hand weights, trying a workout DVD or app, or sit- to-stand movements (or other exercises) during ad breaks while watching TV.
RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2020