RunTogether supporting mental health
RunTogether by the very nature of our values and what we are all about – supportive, being together, safe, inclusive – has for quite some time supported people’s mental health.
- We have developed a number of initiatives to support people as a social and participation based group running programme.
- We work with specialists in the field of mental of health such as Mind and Believe Perform.
- We provide resources that are free to access anytime and without obligation.
Mental Health First Aid courses
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.
MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.
Our Wellbeing Countdown Calendar
At a time when for many of us our mental health is a daily challenge, RunTogether is sharing a Wellbeing Countdown Calendar.
The calendar has 31 days but you can start this countdown on any day. So join us in this 31-day challenge, which is all about looking after your wellbeing and finding things to smile about!
Our own mental health programmes
#RunAndTalk and Mental Health Champions
Our #RunAndTalk programme aims to improve mental health through running in England. Supported by Mind, the mental health charity, we want to:
- get people talking about mental health, sharing their experiences and removing stigma
- provide support and guidance to raise awareness of mental health problems
- support people experiencing mental health problems to be physically active through running, whether that is to support them in starting, returning to or continuing to run.
As part of the #RunAndTalk programme we aim to establish a network of volunteer Mental Health Champions and Ambassadors to:
- promote mental wellbeing through running by supporting the aims of #RunAndTalk.
- work with their club/group to support its members to improve their mental health through running.
- support new people who are experiencing mental health problems to start running, get back into running, or continue running.
Helping 16 to 25 year olds to #RunAndRevise
The #RunAndRevise campaign, from England Athletics and supported by Mind the mental health charity, encourages students aged 16-18 at school, or aged 18-25 at college or university, to take a break from revision, relieve exam stress and improve their mental wellbeing through running.
Mental health resources
Links to useful resources
- Athletics and Mental Health resource (PDF 1.4MB)
- Raising awareness of mental health and the role that coaching can play in supporting participants to maintain good mental health - animation from UK Coaching
- Advice and support for inclusive coaching for people with mental health problems - 3 videos from Mind
- Promoting Good Mental Health through Coaching - infographics (PDF 1.4MB)
