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I
n 2012, it was reported that
mental illness costs the
Australian economy over 28
billion dollars per year. Loss of
productivity, medication, benefits,
counselling services and housing
programs are all controlled by
different government departments
and NGOs, and part of this huge
cost is driven by this fragmentation.
While stream-lining the system
would save some money, mental
health issues will always be a part
of any community. It is estimated
that one in four Australians will
suffer from mental illness at some
point in their lives.
Prevention and treatment should
be a national priority, not just because
of the huge impact it has on the
economy. The human toll of mental
illness touches the lives of many.
Exercise has long been
understood to help in the
management of mental illness.
While a long constitutional may
have had a calming effect in the
past, our understanding of the brain
has evolved quickly since the 1950s
and we are better placed than ever
to see the relationship between
physical fitness and quality of
mental health.
There are a few theories why
exercise can have a positive impact
on mental health. These range from
the purely biological and move to
the social.
The first is related to
the chemistry of the brain.
When we exercise, the brain’s
neurotransmitters secret and
uptake endorphins. These are
linked with a feeling of positivity
and also reduce the perception of
pain. Indeed, they have a similar
effect to other drugs. However,
as the endorphins are produced
naturally and not caused by a
drug interfering with the uptake of
neurotransmitters, it is impossible
to become addicted to them.
Effectively, the release of
endorphins makes the subject feel
better.
This biological explanation is
convincing, but inconclusive. How
the subject perceives the act of
exercise also has a positive effect.
The Self-Efficacy Hypothesis
revolves around the subject’s
belief that they have the ability to
complete a certain task and the
confidence to strategically plan this
success. People with depression,
for example, have low-efficacy,
which limits their ability to set and
achieve goals. This can be improved
when undertaking a sport, as the
sequences required for success
are frequently and visibly modelled,
the rules are clear and the
consequences of failing are not
highly consequential. If self-efficacy
experiences can be had through
sport, so the argument goes,
TimothyMottram