Mental Health in times of COVID-19 and
2020 Mental Health Week – May 4-10th 2020      
Kinesiologists encourage Canadians to be active!

NEWS RELEASE

Professionals support evidence that exercise can boost mood

OTTAWA, May 4th, 2020 – As we face COVID-19, we need each other more than ever. Every May, normally, people in Canadian communities, schools, workplaces and legislatures rally around CMHA Mental Health Week. Mental Health Week helps to shift societal beliefs and perceptions about mental health. It helps promote behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health and create a culture of understanding and acceptance.

In times of COVID-19 and in conjunction with the Mental Health Week, Kinesiologists across Canada will begin a conversation about Canada’s mental health. Millions of Canadians, including Kinesiologists, engaged in an open discussion about mental illness, offering new ideas through physical activities and exercises for those struggling.

The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance is reminding Canadians affected by mental illness, that kinesiologists, as part of a professional health team, can help them to move better, live better. Kinesiologist can help! Some people began in January with Bell Let's Talk and now will continue with CMHA Mental Health Week from May 4-10, and may join CKA’s National Kinesiology Week from November 23 to 29 in support of Mental Health. Canadians are invited to find strategies and opportunities to lead a more active lifestyle. Canadians are invited to take on the eMentalFitChallenge to find strategies and opportunities to lead a more active lifestyle.

It’s common in Canada to say we’re fine, even when we don’t really mean it. Every time we just go through the motions, we miss a chance to connect with others in a meaningful way. This Mental Health Week, let’s say more than just “I’m fine.” Let’s have real conversations with our friends, neighbours and coworkers about how we’re all really doing. We’re in this together.  In these days of social distancing (more accurately called physical distancing), we are learning that we don’t have to be close to feel close. We are together, even when we're apart. Everyone needs emotional support at the best of times. It is precisely the time, during and in recovery from the pandemic, to lean on each other. Even if we can’t be close physically with one another, we need to stay close emotionally. Phone calls, video calls and other digital technologies offer excellent opportunities for connecting face-to-face, even when we can’t be in the same room

The healing power of physical activity

Research shows that social connection and social support are factors that protect and promote good mental health. Feeling socially connected means you feel close and connected to others, and you don’t have to be in physical proximity to nurture a sense of closeness and connection. Social isolation and loneliness are bad for everyone’s mental health.

People are still mainly relying on medication for the management of mental health such as depression or anxiety, etc. However, several studies show a 26% decrease in odds for becoming depressed for each major increase in objectively measured physical activity. This increase in physical activity is what you might see on your activity tracker if you replaced 15 minutes of sitting with 15 minutes of running, or one hour of sitting with one hour of moderate activity like brisk walking. (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

More evidence that exercise can boost mood: Running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression, according to a recent study.  If you do love a good, hearty gym workout, keep going. But if you don't, just getting off the couch and moving for a little while can help. Ideally, to prevent depression you should do at least 15 minutes a day of higher-intensity exercise, such as running, or at least an hour of lower-intensity exercise, such as walking or housework. (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).

With an additional 35 minutes of physical activity each day, those at risk for depression may be protected against future episodes. “Our findings strongly suggest that, when it comes to depression, genes are not destiny and that being physically active has the potential to neutralize the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically vulnerable. On average, about 35 additional minutes of physical activity each day may help people to reduce their risk and protect against future depression episodes.” (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

The researchers found that both high-intensity forms of activity, such as aerobic exercise, dance, and exercise machines, and lower-intensity forms, including yoga and stretching, were linked to decreased odds of depression.  Overall, individuals could see a 17 percent reduction in odds of a new episode of depression for each added four-hour block of activity per week. (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

Mental health is about more than being happy all the time. It’s about feeling good about who you are, having balance in your life, and managing life’s highs and lows. (Canadian Mental Health Association)

Where to turn for help

 “Lack of time, obligations to others, lack of perception of obesity as a health issue, shame and physical restrictions are all factors that act as barriers to meeting the recommended level of physical activity,” continues Hardip Jhaj. “In our practice, we see that getting help from a kinesiologist can make a tremendous positive difference. With a personalized approach and ongoing motivational support, clients affected by mental illness can see how physical activities can drastically improve their quality of life.”

Kinesiologists are the only specialists in human movement who use science and research to offer movement as a medicine to anyone with a health goal, who wants a practical and personalized approach.

About National Kinesiology Week

The 2020 National Kinesiology Week, presented by Hexfit, to be held November 23 to 29, is the perfect time to be more active and discover how a kinesiologist can help people meet the recommended guidelines. With its MoveBetterChallenge, kinesiologists from across the country want Canadians suffering from mental health, and other chronic diseases, to move better.  During that week, people are invited to log their exercise minutes and/or kilometres to be part of a national cumulative challenge. Visit www.nationalkinweek.ca to record walks, runs, rides, encourage others to move better to live better and so much more. Log your exercise minutes and kilometres to participate in the contest.

About the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance

Kinesiologists are human movement specialists. As trained health professionals, kinesiologists apply the science of exercise and movement to promote health and well-being; prevent, manage and rehabilitate chronic conditions; restore function and optimize human performance in the workplace, clinical settings, sport and fitness. They work with people of all ages and with physical abilities, in many settings, to improve the quality of life by often using interventions that include physical activity.

The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA) is a non-profit corporation that advocates and promotes the advancement of the profession of kinesiology in Canada. The CKA strives to be recognized as the unifying voice for the profession of kinesiology in Canada, and to have a positive impact on Canadians. On a national level, the CKA represents nine provincial kinesiology associations (PKAs) that are member associations and over 4,000 affiliated kinesiologists by developing progressive partnerships with other national organizations, providing support to effect positive change within government and public policy, and by promoting the science of Kinesiology. The CKA establishes and promotes the standards of the profession across Canada. To find a kinesiologist, visit www.cka.ca.

To follow the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance on Facebook and Twitter: @CdnKinesiology

Sources:

• More evidence that exercise can boost mood, Harvard Women's Health Watch, May, 2019
• Lower risk of depression with elevated exercise, Health & Medecine, Harvard Gazette, MGH News and Public Affairs, November 5, 2019

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Contact:

France A. Martin, Executive Director - CKA