Sporting Heads - Exploring the impact of Sport and Exercise on Mental Health

Something that made my John O'Groats to Land's End cycle challenge slightly harder is the fact I am an eating disorder survivor.

For me talking about things and having my cycling well-being tool have improved all areas of my life, I am emotionally and physically stronger to cope with the situations that made me crumble

I realise now that the very process of rowing was my way of moving the grief that had settled so deeply into my bones

A short film exploring how writer Joe found relief, not just in the cold water he swam in, but by being open about his own mental health.

Exercise had taken over my life. I lived to get faster race times and would feel depressed if I didn’t improve. Nothing else mattered.

Psychosis for me feels like someone has taken control of my actions and all I can do is sit and watch. Running helps to ground me and prevent any form of psychosis.

At 22 stone, I told my wife I needed to get fit. She just smiled and said she had heard it all before, but this time I was on a mission

I’m standing at the start of the Edinburgh Marathon feeling like a bit of a fraud. Trying to be something I’m not. Who am I to think I can run a marathon?

When I climb, the only thing that matters is my next move, where to put my hands or my feet. It’s an escape from the nightmare that is PTSD.

My Dad was my biggest supporter. When he lost his battle with cancer, school rugby and fitness training became even more important to me

I experienced my first panic attack in my twenties leading to issues with alcohol and depression. Now I am a fitness instructor using exercise to cope with my mental health battles.

Despite international success in business, Matt Miller struggled to find true happiness until he transformed his mind and body through endurance running

Seven years ago my anxiety was off the scale and suicidal thoughts were coming regularly. Now I have rediscovered exercise and the positive effects have been immense

Some of my triathlon training is done with a very close group of friends, who know I’ve been ill, so they let me offload. Exercising socially has been a huge distraction and in fact great therapy

Despite suffering permanent injuries from a road accident, Stephen Peel decided to fulfill his dream and cycle solo around the world