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| Exercise aids depression, say GPs | Exercise aids depression, say GPs |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Doctors are increasingly prescribing exercise for people with depression, mental health campaigners have found. | Doctors are increasingly prescribing exercise for people with depression, mental health campaigners have found. |
| In a survey of 200 English GPs, the Mental Health Foundation found 22% suggest exercise to help people with milder forms of the condition. | In a survey of 200 English GPs, the Mental Health Foundation found 22% suggest exercise to help people with milder forms of the condition. |
| This compares with just 5% in a similar survey three years ago. | This compares with just 5% in a similar survey three years ago. |
| The foundation said it was important that doctors did not just prescribe antidepressants for patients, and looked for other options. | The foundation said it was important that doctors did not just prescribe antidepressants for patients, and looked for other options. |
| Tackling isolation | Tackling isolation |
| Research has shown that exercise can help people with mild forms of depression by improving self-esteem - through better body image or achieving goals, and by relieving feelings of isolation which can fuel their depression. | Research has shown that exercise can help people with mild forms of depression by improving self-esteem - through better body image or achieving goals, and by relieving feelings of isolation which can fuel their depression. |
| It also releases feel-good brain chemicals such as endorphins. | It also releases feel-good brain chemicals such as endorphins. |
| There is a real need for increased availability of exercise on prescription Andrew McCulloch, Mental Health Foundation | There is a real need for increased availability of exercise on prescription Andrew McCulloch, Mental Health Foundation |
| Celia Richardson, campaigns director for the Mental Health Foundation, said: "It can help people physically, socially and biologically. | Celia Richardson, campaigns director for the Mental Health Foundation, said: "It can help people physically, socially and biologically. |
| "They often meet others who have been in the same situation as them, but are now further down the line and feeling better." | "They often meet others who have been in the same situation as them, but are now further down the line and feeling better." |
| The survey found there is now a wider belief by GPs that exercise therapy can be beneficial. | The survey found there is now a wider belief by GPs that exercise therapy can be beneficial. |
| Three years ago, 41% thought it was "effective or very effective", rising to 61% now. | Three years ago, 41% thought it was "effective or very effective", rising to 61% now. |
| But half of the GPs questioned did not have access to an exercise referral scheme. Two thirds of these doctors said they wished they had. | But half of the GPs questioned did not have access to an exercise referral scheme. Two thirds of these doctors said they wished they had. |
| More patients are also interested in how exercise can help them - one in six GPs say they have noticed an increase in the number of people asking whether exercise could help them. | More patients are also interested in how exercise can help them - one in six GPs say they have noticed an increase in the number of people asking whether exercise could help them. |
| Choice | Choice |
| Exercise programmes run by the Mental Health Foundation, partly funded by the Department of Health, are now available in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, London, Northamptonshire, Redcar and Cleveland, and the Wirral. | Exercise programmes run by the Mental Health Foundation, partly funded by the Department of Health, are now available in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, London, Northamptonshire, Redcar and Cleveland, and the Wirral. |
| People referred under the schemes are given a personal trainer who can devise a suitable exercise regime for them. | People referred under the schemes are given a personal trainer who can devise a suitable exercise regime for them. |
| Results from the six areas will be published next year. | Results from the six areas will be published next year. |
| Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the foundation, said: "There is a real need for increased availability of exercise on prescription so that it is accessible alongside antidepressant medication and psychological therapies. | Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the foundation, said: "There is a real need for increased availability of exercise on prescription so that it is accessible alongside antidepressant medication and psychological therapies. |
| "Depression is a complex illness - it is important that GPs have a range of treatments to offer and that people with depression have a choice." | "Depression is a complex illness - it is important that GPs have a range of treatments to offer and that people with depression have a choice." |
| Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said GPs did recognise the benefits of exercise in treating mental illness. | |
| "There is now more awareness and increasing evidence that it works, and the overarching feedback from patients is incredibly positive." |