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Letter – Lessons learnt from a pilot bicycle program with community mental health service consumers
Author(s) -
Devine Erin,
Handmer Marcus,
Bedford Karen,
Rissel Chris,
Low Emily
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he11240
Subject(s) - mental health , mental health service , community health , population health , work (physics) , service (business) , project commissioning , mood , health promotion , gerontology , health economics , physical activity , mental illness , medicine , public relations , public health , psychology , nursing , publishing , psychiatry , business , marketing , engineering , political science , physical therapy , mechanical engineering , law
Physical activity improves mental health. Building on previous work promoting cycling in the general community, we trialled an innovative cycling program for mental health service consumers in the former Sydney South West Area Health Service. The poor physical health of people with a mental illness is well documented. Increasing consumer's physical health is difficult and the literature surrounding the issue is limited. One study found that outside activity significantly improves self esteem and mood.