What is safe and effective practice?
Exercise, sport, and movement can help people with mental health problems feel better. They work especially well alongside talking therapies, medication, and other support.
That’s why we, with our partners, have made guidance for people who run physical activity and mental health programmes.
We made this guidance with:
- people who have lived experience of mental health problems
- coaches
- frontline workers
- healthcare professionals
- over 180 organisations.
Safe and effective practice support package
Checklist
We’ve created a checklist to help you see where you’re meeting the guidance, and where you may need more support.
Checklist - Open and save editable PDF
Checklist - Download accessible Word file
Tools, templates and case studies
We’ve produced resources to help you with areas of the guidance where you may need more support. Find our tools, information on mental health training, downloadable templates and examples of good practice.
Working in mental health and trying to help people every day can be pressurised. And sometimes you just need to get some support for yourself.
- Physical activity deliverer
Endorsements
Royal College of GPs
“This guidance underscores the importance of a holistic approach to mental health by integrating physical activity programmes across diverse settings – from community parks to inpatient facilities. By incorporating insights from individuals with lived experience, healthcare professionals, and sport and movement practitioners, the report sets a robust framework to ensure that both participants and session deliverers are supported and safeguarded.”
The supportive statement has been provided on behalf of the Royal College of GPs by Adrian Hayter, Medical Director for Clinical Policy.
The report has been endorsed by the Mental Health and Movement Alliance.
The Alliance is made up of national mental health organisations (or those working across 2 or more regions) who use physical activity and movement to support mental health outcomes. The Alliance includes:
- Chasing the Stigma
- DOCIA Sport
- MyoMinds
- Mental Health Foundation
- Mental Health Football Wales
- Mental Health Swims
- Movember
- Rethink Mental Illness
- Rugby League Cares
- Scottish Action on Mental Health
- Sport in Mind
- State of Mind Sport
- Stormbreak
- The Foundation for Young People’s Mental Health
The report has also been endorsed by the following organisations:
- Active Partnership Network
- Ann Craft Trust
- CIMSPA
- Community Leisure
- Edge Hill University
- EFL in the Community
- Loughborough University
- Movember
- Physical Activity Clinical Champions
- Rethink Mental Illness
- Scottish Action for Mental Health
- Sport and Recreation Alliance
- Sport for Development Coalition
- State of Mind
- The Richmond Group of Charities
- ukactive
- UK Coaching
I feel particularly happy that the coaches are always around to support us if we are going through hard times.
- Lived experience participant
Frequently asked questions
Over the last year, we’ve worked closely with:
- people who have lived experience of mental health problems
- coaches
- front-line deliverers
- healthcare professionals from 150+ sport, mental health and physical health organisations
They've helped us find out what best practice looks like in a range of settings.
The full list of organisations involved in developing the guidance can be found on page 35 of the report.
This guidance draws together good practice from across different settings. It’s not a quality mark, but you can use our checklist for self-assessment. We understand it will take time for individuals and organisations to apply this guidance. You may decide to prioritise some parts over others to start with.
Our partner communications toolkit contains key messages that you can use across your internal and external communications channels.
You'll also find social media copy and assets, as well as key stats and research that have helped to inform our work.
For further updates, sign up to our monthly physical activity e-newsletter.
