Physically active people have up to a 30 per cent lower risk of depression and ukactive has teamed up with young people’s charity The Mix to help tackle mental health issues among under 25s by getting them to move more.
ukactive will assist with academic research into effective youth interventions, a planned physical activity referral scheme for young people, activity pilot schemes in schools for pupils at high-risk of mental health issues and the creation of e-learning and signposting tools to help young people access physical activity programmes in their area.
The Mix, which was a lead partner for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry’s Heads Together campaign, is a free support service for under 25s, helping more than two million young people in the UK each year.
Government figures show an increase in mental health issues among young people since 2010, with one in four women aged 16-24 having suffered from anxiety and depression, compared to 15 per cent of young men.
