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

The founder of StreetGym® shares his childhood and military experiences which inspired an urban workout designed to stress and build confidence.

We discuss hyperactivity, Olympics, depression and the impact of movement on mental health with one of the most successful divers this country has ever produced

Former Olympic coach Dave Hembrough shares how he has developed a club that is stronger physically, mentally, emotionally and socially

We discussed social media, bodybuilding and mental health with the founder of the community project, Mental Health Muscle

When I’m out pounding the pavements, I don’t have to worry about anything else in my life. It’s become my relief, my refuge and my replacement for booze.

Throughout this whole period, I never fully understood how unwell I was. My moment of hope came when my brother introduced me to his personal trainer.

You bring me laughter, tears, comfort and solace. You are with me every splash, cycle and step of my journey. Through our relationship I have found new motivation, new meaning. Lucy explores her relationship with exercise

As a young girl I enjoyed playing tennis, I was a school champion, but I had not stepped on a court for years. Little did I realise at the time that taking up tennis would help save my life.

I never really entertained the idea that exercise could help my mental health but what persuaded me to go for my first run was the motivation and inspiration from my community psychiatric nurse

Adventuror, author and mental health campaigner Alex Staniforth describes facing his bulimia head on as he attempts to run a sub three hour marathon.

Throughout my whole life swimming has been something that I can rely on, it’s always been there for me.  I feel comfortable in the water more than anywhere else.

As Executive Director of Mini Mermaid UK, I want to embed the value of physical activity for young girls on their physical, emotional and mental health.

I had completely lost my sense of self, my courage, my joy, my motivation and my pride. It was daily swimming in the sea that brought all that back.

The novelty of running early on a Saturday morning without a hangover has never worn off. It always fills me with gratitude and pride and kick starts my weekend with an amazing endorphin rush.