SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) have launched a new initiative to use the power of sport to help people manage their mental health.
The initiative will harness the huge benefits of physical activity and sport with clubs, organisations and activity providers encouraging people to connect with their local community to raise self-esteem and reduce isolation.
The launch event was held at the Oriam in Edinburgh, with the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport Maree Todd in attendance.
Abby Cook, Forth Valley Disability Sport GOGA Officer and Young Start graduate represented SDS at the launch to share her story about how sport changed her life. She is now encouraging others who experience poor mental health to discover sport as she says it not only builds physical strength but helps your mental health to grow stronger. Abby struggled with anxiety and an eating disorder in her early teens after a condition she had since birth Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which causes your joints to easily dislocate causing a lot of pain, worsened and left her unable to walk and needing to use a wheelchair.
She said: “I was a competitive swimmer up until the age of 13 and loved cross country running. Physical exercise was my life but it was taken away from me overnight when my condition became so bad that I ended up being housebound for six months and unable to attend school. I became very anxious, depressed and ashamed of my disability.
“I came across Forth Valley Disability Sport when I was at breaking point and looking for a way to meet like-minded people in my local area. Sport wasn’t the main motivator for joining, I found the social aspect helped save my life. It’s the chats with someone before and after you take part in a sport that really helped me, I found myself meeting new people and really looking forward to going back each week.”
More information on the SAMH website