Local Facts and Statistics
According to recent research by the Wiltshire Community Foundation, mental health challenges are widespread across Wiltshire.
- 13 areas in Wiltshire are ranked among the most deprived 10% in England on the Mood and Anxiety Disorder Indicator.
- Swindon and towns in the South East of Wiltshire (Salisbury, Amesbury, and Tidworth), have a greater concentration of mood and anxiety disorders.
- 10 of the 14 largest towns in Wiltshire and Swindon have higher rates of emergency hospital admissions for self-harm than the national average. The highest rate of admissions is in Swindon itself, where residents are 80% more likely to self-harm.
Physical Activity and Mental Health
'Being Active' is one of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing outlined by the NHS, who claim that being physically active can have many benefits, including:
- raising your self-esteem
- helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
- causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood
Mind have put together this video which provides advice for how you can get started and begin receiving these benefits.
Resources
In 2020, WASP supported Men's Mental Health Swindon in their successful application of £5,500 of funding from Sport England's Together Fund (formerly Tackling Inequalities Fund), which aims to support communities most impacted by Covid-19. As a result of this funding MMHS have launched a local campaign which focuses on the experiences of four men in Swindon to highlight the positive impact physical activity can have on mental wellbeing, and provide advice on how to get involved in sport in the local area.
You can find the launch video below.
