Mental Health and Physical Activity

You know you're on the right (running) track when there is a journal that seeks to address the fundamentals of parity of esteem that is mental and physical health:

Robertson, R., Robertson, A., Jepson, R., and Maxwell, M. (2012) Walking for depression or depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Mental Health and Physical Activity, 5, 1, 66-75. ISSN 1755-2966 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2012.03.002.

Sometimes, geography matters too in terms of intervention choices and the population of a study:

Moran, R., Sperandei, S., Peel, N., Gray, T., and Reis, A. (2024) The long-term effect of surf therapy on posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety symptomology among current and former Australian defence force members - A nonrandomised controlled longitudinal study in a community setting. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 27, 100629, ISSN 1755-2966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100629.

While researchers seek an holistic view -

Ciaccioni, S. et al. (2026) Modifiable determinants of adolescents’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour in school, home and mixed settings: A DE-PASS systematic review and meta-analysis of self-reported data with a holistic analysis. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 31. 100803,
ISSN 1755-2966, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2026.100803.

- and the above journal 'Supports open access', I do not believe my individual circumstances would qualify for differential treatment of fees:

'Article Publishing Charge (APC): USD 3,190 (excluding taxes). Actual APCs may differ based on individual author circumstances.'

This is a pity, as surprisingly thus far, the journal does not appear to have explicitly referred to 'parity of esteem'? Clearly a soapbox for me, there is plenty of room for others to join in the debate. To acknowledge, however, severe mental illness is well represented.

Given the holistic scope of Hodges' model the lack of inclusion in such literature is a shame. 

Acutely so, as Hodges' model begs (demands!?) consideration of holistic bandwidth. The matter of exercise and activity as a therapeutic option in mental health care quickly gets intense and heated (even if the interlocutors are recumbent). Social prescribing seems well established. On social media ['X' still for me] voicing the benefits of exercise does not always go down well. 

Fabiano N, Puder D, Stubbs B. Could not prescribing exercise for depression be psychiatric malpractice?

British Journal of Sports Medicine 2025;59:1388-1389.

Ironically given the limitations of the bio-psycho-social model, the 'barricades' don't go up they are a permanent feature. As soon as we need to consider the political dimensions of health care, legal and professional accountability, policy, funding, accessibility, the minutiae of human rights (individual instances). Plus, in the UK the welfare benefits bill, the struggles of young adults not in employment, education or training; then division and oppositions are all that is. And, what can be individual and collective opportunities are missed.

My source:  https://x.com/NTFabiano/status/2103876655366521278?s=20

'Safe space' - which one?

 Individual
  |

     INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

|

GROUP

psychological safety

physical safety

social safety

"NHS staff will be able to speak out about mistakes without fear of reprisal for the first time, thanks to a new investigation unit with "safe space" powers. The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), which was launched last week, has been granted a remit that in effect means any testimony or evidence given to it by doctors, nurses and other staff medical staff will not be handed over to another agency - such as the police, a coroner or the General Medical Council - unless the High Court rules that it must."

Lintern, S. 'Safe space' unit to protect NHS staff reporting medical errors, The Sunday Times, 22nd October 2023, p.11.