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Physical Wellbeing

Mental health can be defined as:

‘A state of physical, social and mental well being’ (Mentality, 2004)

Mind and body are inseparable and our physical health is very important for our overall sense of wellbeing. Our mental health can be affected by our physical health and vice versa and this is why it is vital that we take a holistic approach to recovery.

There are many ways we can all promote and protect our physical and mental health:

Diet

Eating regular and balanced meals is important for physical health. Eating well need not be too expensive. Information about healthy eating can be found at 'Weight Wise'. This site provides information and practical advice about how to monitor what you eat and how to eat healthily.

Also check out recent research linking food and mood at this site.

This document - Healthy Eating and Depression - is also a valuable source of information about diet and its effects on mental health.

Exercise

Exercising regularly has a huge impact on physical health. Not many people know however, that exercise can also benefit your mental health:

• Exercise boosts the release of endorphins in your brain promoting feelings of well being and reducing stress
• The effect of exercise on our mood is instant
• Exercise is fun and provides a diversion from negative thinking
• Exercise provides an important source of social contact and is an easy way to meet new friends
• Exercise can promote a good nights sleep
• Exercising can be free!

  In Cambridge there is a range of opportunities for physical activity. The information below outlines a few that are supported by the mental health community:

  Health, Sport & Leisure Opportunities in Cambridge City
  These are low-cost or free groups specifically for people with mental health needs and include tennis, yoga, football and gym sessions. Groups take place in community sport and leisure venues and are co-run by mental health professionals. Service users do not need a referral to access these opportunities and there is support available if you do not wish to go alone.

More detailed information about these groups can be found on the City Council website, or by downloading the Invigorate leaflet.

The programme is expending and we welcome your ideas about new activities. For an informal chat about the programme contact Gemma Voutt, Sports Development Officer on (01223) 457547.

Exercise Referral Schemes:

“I was a real couch potato and getting depressed easily. I was sceptical that exercise would help with my mood. The hardest part was taking that first step, but I’m so glad that I did. The Exercise Referral Scheme has made a real difference to the way I feel and given me more personal resource – more to face the world with”

These are 10 week schemes for people wanting to improve their physical fitness and are run in both Cambridge City and South Cambs in Sports Centres and Village Colleges. More detailed information can be found on the City Council website.

Start up for Cambridge City - Contact Carrie Holbrook (01223) 457538
Fitness 4 Health for South Cambridgeshire – Contact Lynne Potter (01954) 212042.

You can be referred by your GP, or any other health professional, including mental health staff who are registered to refer on to the scheme (registering as a referrer is very easy).

Healthy Walks
These are open to all and run twice a week. They are free of charge and cater for all fitness levels. Details of walks currently planned can be downloaded from here.

Milton Country Park, Cambridge Tuesdays, 2:00pm-3:00pm followed by refreshments. (01223 420060)
Wandlebury Country Park, Thursdays, 11:00pm-12:00pm followed by refreshments. Cambridge Preservation Society, Wandlebury Country Park (01223) 243830

Pictures from the 2005 Healthy Walk at Milton Country Park

T'ai Chi
T'ai Chi and Chi Kung can help a person maintain a healthy and centred lifestyle and increase wellbeing. They can help to:

• Improve balance
• Aid management and recovery from long term physical and mental illness, Injury and Stroke
• Correct postural problems
• Improving respiration and circulation and increasing oxygen intake
• Increase range and quality of movement for people suffering from debilitating conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis and Parkinson's Disease
• Relieve and manage chronic pain
• Reduce stress and tension
• Provide a challenging and accessible activity
  
  More details can be found from this current newsletter

Smoking

If you are interested in stopping smoking there is expert help locally at
Camquit - the Cambridgeshire Stop Smoking Service. They are at The Mill House, Brookfield ’s Hospital, 351 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3DF. (01223 723022) or by email.

Drugs

Talk To Frank
Website: www.talktofrank.com
Telephone : 0800 77 66 00 (24hrs)
Textphone: 0800 917 8765
Offers advice and information about drugs. You can call 24 hrs a day, every day - calls from landlines are free and will not show up on your phone bill.

Sleep

When we are worried, stressed or even elated our sleep can be affected. Being deprived of sleep can have a negative impact on our wellbeing and hence our ability to function in everyday life.

MIND - promoting rest and sleep

Health Checks

If you have a diagnosis of serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder your GP should be offering you an annual physical health check, as you may be at an increased risk of developing physical health problems including cardio-vascular disease and diabetes, especially if you are prescribed medications that cause weight gain.

You should expect your GP to be offering a range of blood tests (glucose, serum prolactin, cholesterol and lipids and thyroid levels) and be offering advice about a range of lifestyle issues including smoking, diet and exercise. You should also expect to have a blood pressure recording, urine check and weight and height measurement to calculate your Body Mass Index.

A recent investigation carried out by the Disability Rights Commission into physical health inequalities concluded that people with mental health needs are not recieving adequate physical health care. See what you can do about this on the following link.

If you are a mental health practitioner and need guidance on supporting people with their physical health needs see the following link.

Medication
Medication can be a vital part of treatment for many people with mental health problems. If taken regularly medication can work well, often in conjunction with other therapies, to help people live the kinds of lives that they want to lead. Unfortunately many medicines for mental health problems have side effects that can affect people’s lives and so it is important that people are fully informed and educated about their medication so that they can manage their own medicines and find the ones that are best for them.

Find more information here in this document, from Fulbourn Hospital Pharmacy Department, provides some questions you might want to ask to make sure that you are fully informed about your medication.

Other Helpful Links

Mental Health Foundation

MIND - Food and Mood

MIND - Physical Activity

Last revised 10 April 2008

For more details about the original images on the site email here