How exercise can benefit your mental health

Published on 18 March 2019

Research shows that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing, and lower rates of mental illness.

Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing mental illness and can also assist in treating some mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety. For example, for mild depression, research suggests physical activity can be as effective as antidepressants or psychological treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy.

Almost everyone knows that exercise is good for your physical health and can make you feel good, but did you know it can also boost your mood, concentration and alertness and even help give you a positive outlook on life? The link between exercise and mental health can be a little complicated though. Inactivity can be the cause and the consequence of mental illness, for example.

Here are some simple explanations of how exercise can boost your mood:

• regular exercise can help you sleep better and good sleep helps regulate your moods
• exercise can distract you from negative thoughts and provide opportunities to try new experiences
• it offers an opportunity to socialise and get social support if you exercise with others
• the levels of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, stress hormones and endorphins, change when you exercise
• physical activity can be an outlet for your frustrations

The physical benefits of exercise are also important for people with mental illness. It improves your cardiovascular health and overall physical health. This is important because people with mental health issues are at a higher risk of suffering from chronic physical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and asthma.

For further information and strategies on how to improve your mental health through exercise, we recommend reading the below links:

Beyond Blue - Exercise your way to good mental health

Help Guide - The mental health benefits of exercise