ABSTRACT
Department of Health figures show that one in four people in the UK will suffer from mental health problems during their lifetime and one in six people at any given time. According to mental health charity Mind, research shows that outdoor exercise can reduce depression and anxiety, by up to 30 per cent according to Youth Sport Trust. Physical activity gets the endorphins going and can lift a person's mood almost immediately. A therapeutic sports session aims to ensure that the young person will come back to next session, so they can continue to benefit from the activity and build up their self-esteem. The trick is to get the balance right between teaching sports skills and physical literacy and promoting the wider benefits of PE and sport. Many high-profile cricketers have suffered from mental health issues in recent times. Spin bowler Monty Panesar says his anxiety issues were brought on by loss of self-esteem and issues in his personal life.
