Former St Andrew’s patient campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits of exercise to mental health

A former patient at St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton is joining the organisation in getting behind Sport in Mind’s ‘RED January’ campaign, which aims to get the nation moving to help people’s mental wellbeing.

Sian was discharged from St Andrew’s Healthcare last January. She made substantial progress, despite the challenges presented in the last year, and she is now an employed member of staff for the healthcare organisation.

Sian claimed that one of the things that got her through the last year has been focusing on exercise and activity to help her mental health.

She said: “Since leaving St Andrew’s last year, exercise - and running in particular - has helped keep me so much and boosted my mental health. It has given me a purpose to get up and go out in the morning. So much so that I am now well enough to hold down a job, which I never thought would happen so soon.

“At this current time, support for mental health is even more vital for many people and participation in sport and exercise can really make a difference.”

Sian is now joining thousands of other people this January to raise more awareness about the benefits of exercise and mental health.

She raised £300 for Sport In Mind a few months ago when she ran a marathon in three days.

She, along with her family, are currently trying to raise money for Sport in mind doing High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts over Skype for those who cannot get together due to Covid regulations.

People can run, swim, cycle or choose any fitness activity to take part in the ‘RED January’ campaign. The key is to set goals and enjoy support from the RED Together community every step, splash and pedal of the way. All funds raised through this campaign will go towards providing more support for mental health.

The CEO and founder of RED January and RED Together, Hannah Beecham, set up this campaign after witnessing the transformative effect exercise had on her mother who suffered from depression.

She said: “Exercise was something I used as a tool to help me manage every day stresses and wondered if it could also help my Mum as she started to recover.

“I signed us both up to a walking marathon. Slow and steadily, my Mum began getting out of the house each day to train. She started to see a change in her mood and energy and some of the symptoms lessened.

“The sense of achievement gained by setting a goal and seeing it through, along with the physical effects of regular exercise helped transform her approach to managing her mental health.”

You can get involved by visiting Red January’s Just Giving page. Further information is available on the Red January website.