Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish explains the importance of Mental Health Month

AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish explains the importance of Mental Health Month
October 4, 2023

October is Mental Health Month and Australia is in the grip of a mental health and inactivity crisis.

One in five Australians have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months, and one in eight people worldwide live with a mental disorder.

The worldwide cost of mental health disorders is set to rise from $2.3 trillion to $6 trillion by 2030 and while the benefit of exercise for depression and anxiety is generally recognised, it is often overlooked in the management of these conditions.

Nobody in their right mind - and I’ll come to that later - would deny that physical activity and exercise is a critical factor in maintaining good physical health.

The benefits of exercise in combatting obesity, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, in fact just about any physical ailment, have been demonstrated time and time again by medical authorities and researchers. 

But we don’t need doctors to tell us that - it’s something we intrinsically know through personal experience.

What is becoming more evident, especially after the ravages of Covid is the role exercise and physical activity plays in supporting our mental wellbeing as well as our physical health. 

A recent meta-analysis from the University of Adelaide of over 100 credible research programs covering over 100,000 participants concludes that exercise is one and a half times more effective in managing/mitigating anxiety and depression than medications or counselling.

This finding reinforced my own personal experiences in managing mental health issues. Since the age of 14 I have been accustomed to occasional bouts of depression triggered by events or situations. 

Since the same age I have managed the episodes by various means including counselling, pharmaceuticals and physical activity with the latter being the most effective and most enduring. 

As a teenager I discovered surfing and the adrenalin, fear and most of all serenity it provided me. Sitting in the ocean watching the sun come up or go down was a nature induced panacea that nurtured and protected me. 

Later when I moved away from the ocean, I took up running, became addicted to the natural high that ensues and again found peace running most mornings before work in the Adelaide parklands as the sun rose and the morning mist was dissolved by the warmth of a new day. 

Although at times I have resorted to medication and or counselling, and they have their place, exercise and nature have been my ‘go to’ managing strategies for the past 57 years.

Health researchers are also discovering the positive impacts of exercise when combined with nutrition and cognitive training in preventing, or at least delaying the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. 

If you are still not convinced of the positive nexus between exercise and mental wellbeing, earlier this year the Harvard Business Review published findings on the benefits of exercise for improving individual productivity. 

The research found that regular exercise resulted in better sleep, more energy and greater cognitive function - all leading to improved productivity and improved workplace morale.

Take note Mr Treasurer.

It is this greater awareness on the importance of physical activity and exercise for both physical and mental wellbeing that is behind the current Fit for Office campaign initiated by AUSactive with the support of Myzone technology. 

Over a four week period, currently more than 28 senators and federal politicians from both houses representing all political persuasions and states are participating in a friendly competition until 22nd October to prove they are ‘Fit for Office’. 

The point of the exercise, no pun intended, is to raise the national conversation on the importance of exercise, to prod all governments to seriously invest in preventive health and inspire population wide behavioural change through a national public health campaign promoting the benefits of physical activity.

The various state-based voucher systems are a start but inconsistent in eligibility, timing, value and activity choice. 

The federal government has given some grants to organisations working in the chronic health sector, but by definition these organisations deal primarily with managing existing health problems, rather than prevent them in the first place. 

With a return on investment of a reported sixfold, a Health system, that includes Hospitals, the NDIS, Aged Care and increasing demands for mental welfare services, collapsing under the strain, surely a government talking of wellbeing Budgets and the need to increase national productivity would seriously consider investing more in preventive health? The savings are significant, ongoing and exponential.

Coinciding with the Fit for Office campaign October is also Mental Health Month; what better time to seriously invest in the best medicine and/or treatments available - exercise?

Images: Barrie Elvish (top) and addressing the recent AUSactive Senior Management Summit in Melbourne (top).

About the author

Barrie Elvish

Chief Executive, AUSactive

Barrie Elvish has over 20 years’ experience of managing successful organisational change, strategic development and business growth across a range of sectors such as education and health.

His passions and experiences including training for triathlons, keeping his depressive episodes under control through exercise, trekking the Kokoda Trail and Hot Rods – all for the purpose of making meaningful connections.

Click here to contact him via LinkedIn.

Read more from this author

Related Articles

2nd October 2023 - Jetts Fitness secures two AUSactive National Awards

26th September 2023 - AUSactive’s Fit for Office challenge gets underway

25th September 2023 - Cérge partnership with Belgravia Foundation and Belgravia Leisure secures 2023 AUSactive National Innovation Award

21st September 2023 - Brain tumour survivor Named AUSactive 2023 National Exercise Instructor of the Year

20th September 2023 - Fernwood Fitness secure multiple wins at 2023 AUSactive Awards

16th September 2023 - AUSactive Awards 2023 celebrate the fitness and wellbeing industry’s highest achievements

4th September 2023 - AUSactive campaign calls on Federal Parliamentarians to be ‘Fit for Office’

1st August 2023 - AUSactive to stage ‘Mini MBA in a Day’

27th July 2023 - AUSactive launches 2023 Digital Futures Consultation

6th July 2023 - AUSactive invites industry input in predicting hottest fitness trends for 2024

29th June 2023 - Superyacht Fitness and Myzone partner to improve physical and mental health of crew members

6th June 2023 - AUSactive to stage industry Summits in four states

5th June 2023 - ActiveXchange releases community profile tool for AUSactive members

18th May 2023 - Walk With Me engages elite athletes and coaches to support communities’ mental health

28th April 2023 - AUSactive Chief Executive says fitness can ‘save’ Medicare

6th March 2023 - AUSactive highlights urgent need for Federal Budget to prioritise physical activity

15th April 2023 - World Active Summit accepts Charter and Elects Council

13th March 2023 - Viva Leisure study shows Australians rate mental health as top reason for attending the gym

3rd March 2023 - Physical exercise more effective than medicines to manage mental health

20th December 2022 - AUSactive highlights having ‘come a long way’ in its advocacy

10th October 2022 - Olympic champion Hayley Lewis named as Mental Health Ambassador

4th October 2022 - Rebel and Lifeline launch campaign ahead of World Mental Health Day

23rd September 2022 - ExerciseNZ’s Richard Beddie says exercising for mental health is ‘critical’

10th August 2022 - AUSactive webinars to offer mental health support

4th August 2022 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish praises Queensland Government’s FairPlay voucher scheme

27th July 2022 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish named Chair of World Active Forum

14th March 2022 - AUSactive’s Barrie Elvish highlights cost of Australia’s physical and mental health crisis to Federal Treasurer

23rd February 2021 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish highlights the value of health


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Goplay Commercial Playground Equipment

Goplay designs and manufactures specialised playground equipment for indoor play centres, hotels, food chains, clubs and resorts. If our years of experience and dedication have taught us one thing,…

read more

Play

 
 

AlphaFit

AUSTRALIAN MADE. FIT FOR PURPOSE. Based on the Gold Coast, AlphaFit is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Australian gym equipment specifically for the commercial, strength and conditioning,…

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Worldwide Sports Management

Principal Consultant Simon Weatherill has spent the last 20 years developing the world renowned Melbourne Sports Hub, as former Chief Executive Officer of the State Sports Centres Trust…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Momentus Technologies

About: Momentus Technologies is a global provider of industry-leading venue and event management solutions that empower organizations to create extraordinary moments. With over 50,000 users in more…

read more

Entertainment / Events / Hospitality / Technology / Venues

 
 

Smart Connection Consultancy

Smart Connection Consultancy is a boutique sport and recreation consultancy who has become one of Australia’s leading advocates for the use of synthetic sports surfaces as a vehicle to grow…

read more

Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces

 
 

Anti Wave Global

Anti Wave Global is the original suppliers of top performance swim, aquatic sports, leisure and pool programming equipment. Founded in 1971, Anti Wave Global is proud of its long and tested…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Sport

 
 

@leisure Planners

@leisure is a team of experienced leisure, aquatic and sports facility managers and planners, with market modelling, sports management, recreation planning, business and GIS qualifications. We have…

read more

Consultants

 
 

PathMinder

PathMinder Pty Ltd have partnered with AllUser Industries srl to bring Europe’s most advanced high security portals to the Australian and New Zealand markets. AllUser Industries started to…

read more

Access / Fitness / Recreation / Security

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business