Project
Mielenterveyttä tukeva liikkuminen
Project sponsors
The 'Movement Supporting Mental Health' project promotes physical activity among young people and adults experiencing psychosocial symptoms or challenges. It also complements existing physical activity recommendations for health and adapted physical activity guidelines.
The goal of the 'Movement Supporting Mental Health' project is to produce new, illustrative material and a related short training that describes:
- how and what kind of physical activity and psychosocial environment support mental health, and
- how to lower the threshold for young people and adults with psychosocial functional limitations to participate in physical activity.
Additionally, the project aims to strengthen the competence of physical activity counselors and other professionals in the field, such as physical education teachers, in promoting physical activity from a mental health perspective.
Contact person Anu Kangasniemi [email protected]
Project results
The 'Movement Supporting Mental Health' project begins with a review that compiles existing national and international recommendations, research findings, and statements on the connections between physical activity and mental health, as well as between psychosocial functional limitations and physical activity. Based on this review, an international research article will be written.
Drawing from the research findings, a Finnish-language synthesis and new practical material will be created to support promotion work. This material will include visual illustrations and text on the topic. To accompany the material, a training will be developed for professionals in the fields of physical activity and health, describing the significance of physical activity for mental health.