Mental Health

and Physical
Activity Toolkit

Guide 1:
An introduction
to mental health
About this guide
We’ve put together this guide to help you support and engage the
mental health sector and people experiencing mental health problems.

Who is this guide for?

Anyone working or volunteering in sport and physical activity.

What does this guide cover?

Click on the headings below to go straight to the information you’re looking for.

03 What is mental health?

06 What causes mental health problems?

08 Self-care and treatment options for mental health problems

12 Working with the mental health sector

23 Appendices

Home 2
 • What is
mental health?

What causes mental

health problems?

What is
Self-care and
treatment options
for mental
health problems

mental
Working with the
mental health
sector

Appendices

health
Guide 1:
An introduction to mental health
Home 3
What is mental health?
In many ways, mental health is just like physical health: everybody has it and we need to take care of it.
Mental health is a continuum, ranging from good to poor.

Good mental health means being generally able to think, feel and What are mental health problems?
react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. But if you Approximately one in four adults1 and one in six children (5-16 year
go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways olds)2 will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
you’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even Common mental health problems include depression and anxiety,
impossible, to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, while rarer problems include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
or even worse.
Mental health problems can affect the way you think, feel and behave.
What is mental wellbeing? They can affect anyone regardless of age, race, religion or income.

Mental wellbeing doesn’t have one set meaning. We might use Mental health problems are usually diagnosed by a doctor or mental
wellbeing to talk about how we feel, how well we’re coping with daily health specialist. Having a diagnosis does not necessarily mean that
life or what feels possible right now. you are unwell right now. You could have a diagnosis of a mental health
problem but, at the moment, be able to manage it and function well
Good mental wellbeing doesn’t mean you’re always happy or
at work and at home. Equally, you might not have a diagnosis, but still
unaffected by your experiences. But poor mental wellbeing can make
be finding things very difficult. Everyone’s experience is different and
it more difficult to cope with daily life.
can change at different times.
Looking after our mental wellbeing can help us deal with pressure and
improve our ability to cope with life’s ups and downs.
Find out more about mental health problems and diagnosis.

Find out more about mental wellbeing.

1 NHS (2007). Adult Psychiatric Morbidity in England – 2007, Results of a household survey.
2 NHS (2020). Mental Health of Children & Young People in England2020: Wave 1 follow up to the 2017 survey.

What is mental health? Home 4

How common are mental health problems? Mental health myth busters
• One in four people will experience a mental health problem There are lots of myths and misconceptions around mental health.
of some kind each year in England . 3 This can make it more difficult for people experiencing mental health
problems to seek and find appropriate help, and fuels the stigma
• One in six people report experiencing a common mental they face. They can also make it difficult for the public to understand
health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given
mental health.
week in England4 .
The Time to Change campaign raised awareness of mental health
See Appendix 1 for mental health facts and statistics including who’s and aimed to end the stigma surrounding it. Delivered by Mind and
most affected by mental health problems. Rethink Mental Illness, Time to Change produced videos, quizzes and
a wide range of resources to help people discover more about mental
health and separate the myths from the facts.
Mental health language
The language around mental health can be confusing, especially as Myth
different terminology is widely used. I can’t do anything to support someone with a mental health problem.

We use the phrase ‘mental health problems’, as many people have told Fact
us this feels helpful for them.
There are lots of things you can do to make a difference to their
However, other people may feel terms such as ‘mental illness’ or life: check in, listen and don’t judge, treat them in the same way
‘mental health issues’ describe their experiences better. And in some and Ask Twice.
cultures, the term ‘mental health’ is not used at all. For example,
Suffolk Mind use ‘emotional health’ in their The Qur’an and Emotional Myth
Health: An Introduction booklet to ensure it’s relevant for Muslim You can’t recover from mental health problems.
communities.
Fact
See Appendix 2 for information on mental health language
and definitions. It’s possible to recover from mental health problems, and many
people do – especially after accessing support. Symptoms may return
from time to time but lots of people experiencing mental health
problems still lead full lives.

3 McManus, S et al (2009). Adult psychiatric morbidity in England, 2007: results of a household survey.
4 McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. (eds.) (2016). Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult psychiatric morbidity survey 2014.

What is mental health? Home 5

 What is
mental health?

• What causes mental

health problems?

Self-care and

What causes
treatment options
for mental
health problems

Working with the

mental health
mental health
sector

Appendices

problems
Guide 1:
An introduction to mental health
Home 6
What causes mental
health problems?
Mental health problems can have a wide range of causes. It’s likely many people experience a combination of causes – although
some people may be more deeply affected by certain factors than others.

The following factors could potentially result in a

period of poor mental health:

• abuse, bullying, trauma or neglect

• social isolation or loneliness
• experiencing discrimination and stigma
• social disadvantage, poverty or debt
• bereavement (losing someone close to you)
• severe or long-term stress
• having a long-term physical health condition
• unemployment or losing your job
• homelessness or poor housing
• being a long-term carer for someone Some people may be more likely to develop mental health problems
• drug and alcohol misuse because of their background and life circumstances. It can be hard
enough living with a mental health problem. But when people also
face stigma and discrimination because of their ethnicity, sexuality,
disability or other life circumstances, things can be even harder.

Find out more about these factors and mental health.

What causes mental health problems? Home 7

 What is
mental health?

What causes mental

health problems?

• Self-care
Self-care and
and
treatment options
for mental
health problems

treatment options Working with the

mental health
sector

for mental Appendices

health problems
Guide 1:
An introduction to mental health
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Self-care and treatment options
for mental health problems
Self-care
Self-care techniques and general lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of many mental
health problems. They may also help prevent some from developing or getting worse.

Find out more about self-care and 8 relaxation tips for your mental health.

The New Economics Foundation’s Five Ways to Wellbeing is a popular framework around self-care for
mental wellbeing. You could think of it as your five a day for
mental health.

As well as these ideas for self-care, there are some formal treatment options for people
experiencing mental health problems.

Self-care and treatment options for mental health problems Home 9

Treatment options
The two most common forms of treatment offered for mental health problems through the NHS are talking therapies and
psychiatric medication. The table below gives a few details about these, as well as some alternatives.

Medication Psychiatric medication includes all drugs which can be prescribed to treat different types of mental health problems, or to
reduce the symptoms. There are four main types of psychiatric medication: antidepressants, antipsychotics, sleeping pills and
minor tranquillisers, and lithium and other mood stabilisers.
You can find people talking about medication’s effects on our YouTube channel.

Talking Involves talking to a trained professional about your thoughts and feelings. There are many different types of talking therapy,
therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), but they all aim to give you a safe space and time to talk to someone who won’t
judge you. Watch a video guide to CBT on our YouTube channel.

Arts and Involves arts-based activities in a therapeutic environment with the support of a trained professional. Arts and creative
creative therapies include dance movement, drama, music and visual art therapies.
therapies

Ecotherapy Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing.
Ecotherapy is a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature including gardening,
conservation and physical activity.
You can hear from people who have benefited from getting active in nature on our YouTube channel.

Peer support Peer support is when people use their own experiences to help each other. Types of peer support include community groups,
mentoring, befriending, online communities (like our Side by Side community) and support groups.
Roseanne from the Swift Tees community running group talks about how she found peer support through running in this video.

Sport and Guide 2: The relationship between physical activity and mental health looks at how physical activity can support mental health.
physical Mind’s Get Set to Go programme changed lives with the support of Sport England and the National Lottery. Local Minds
activity provided bespoke physical activity programmes to get people active. These programmes removed the barriers to physical
activity for people experiencing mental health problems.

Find out more about the support available to

manage and treat mental health problems.

Self-care and treatment options for mental health problems Home 10

Case study

Get it off your chest: men’s mental

health ten years on (2020)
Our report – Get it off your chest: Men’s mental health 10
years on – explores how men’s mental health has changed
over the last ten years.

The findings show that there have been some improvements in

men feeling able to seek help for their mental health, however,
this comes in contrast to an increase in the amount of men
experiencing mental health problems. It is clear there is more
to be done to ensure that men feel able to access mental
health support that both suits their needs and ideally provides
early intervention.

The findings suggest men’s preferred

alternatives to being prescribed
medication to support their mental
health are face-to-face therapy and
physical activity.

Self-care and treatment options for mental health problems Home 11

 What is
mental health?

What causes mental

health problems?

Self-care and
treatment options
for mental

Working with
health problems

• Working with the

the mental
mental health
sector

Appendices

health sector

Guide 1:
An introduction to mental health
Home 12
Working with the
mental health sector
The mental health sector can be confusing
and challenging for sport and physical
activity providers. This section will help
you to better understand the sector and
makes suggestions for how you could
approach and work with it.

Take a look at The Kings Fund’s Alternative guide

to mental health care in England video below to
see how mental health services work with other
public and health provisions.

Working with the mental health sector Home 13

Case study

Springfield Mind and Think Active’s joint post

As part of Get Set to Go funding, Springfield organisations was sometimes hard. So was staying on
Mind and Think Active set up a joint staff post. top of two inboxes, one for each organisation.

“I was working part-time for Springfield Mind, and By bringing the two organisations closer together
part-time for Think Active,” says Hayley Noel who Hayley was able to act quickly when funding
took on the joint post to coordinate a physical opportunities appeared. For example, a charity
activity programme for people experiencing mental organisation secured funding to deliver a five-year
health problems. men’s mental health programme. Think Active were
able to bring together this organisation and Springfield
“By working for both organisations there was a
Mind to work together. This made it easier for referrers
direct way to share learning and opportunities.
to signpost service users to the correct programme.
So Springfield Mind had a wealth of experience of
mental health and Think Active had a wealth of
experience on physical activity.”
“Hayley working at Springfield
For example, Springfield Mind supported Hayley to
take a Mental Health First Aid course and learn more Mind and Think Active has been a
about mental health. Hayley then took that learning brilliant link between the mental
back to Think Active to inform their programmes.
health and physical activity
Plus, with her experience in sports development,
Hayley helped Springfield Mind staff see the value of sectors, perfectly mirroring how
physical activity first-hand. mental and physical health go
Being based in both offices also benefited this joint hand in hand. Ultimately this
approach. Hayley says she could naturally absorb partnership has helped both
conversations around sport and mental health and
see how the two organisations could work together
organisations in reaching their
on new opportunities. goals of better support for
But it could be a challenge too. “Wearing both hats” those living with mental health
meant that recognising the boundaries of both problems in the community.”
Mel Campbell, Services Manager at Springfield Mind

Working with the mental health sector Home 14

Key organisations and the support they can provide the physical activity sector
The tables below highlights:

• types of care and support in the mental health sector in England

• key organisations in the mental health sector in England
• potential support they can provide the physical activity sector.
Find out more about the stakeholders listed in the tables below in Appendix 2 and Appendix 4 .

Type of What Key Potential support for

organisation is it? stakeholders* the physical activity sector

Primary Often the first Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)’s A referral partner who can identify people who would benefit
care point of contact Mental Health lead from physical activity and refer them to local activities.
for people GPs, nurses and General Practice staff Promote activities and events.
who need Health visitors Link to local mental health networks.
healthcare. Pharmacies Guidance on the type of support a person experiencing mental
Social prescribing link workers health problems may need before doing physical activity.
Support to signpost people to if they need mental health help.

Secondary Healthcare Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)’s A referral partner who can identify people who would benefit
care provided by a Local Authority lead from physical activity and refer them to local activities.
specialist upon Community Mental Health Nurse or Promote activities and events.
referral from Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) Link to local mental health networks.
primary care. Community Mental Health
Usually in a Teams (CMHT)
clinical setting.
Crisis Resolution and Home
Treatment Team
Early Intervention Teams
Improving Access to Psychological
Therapies (IAPT)

*Please note that the names and structures of these stakeholders may vary between locations.

Working with the mental health sector Home 15

 Type of What Key Potential support for
organisation is it? stakeholders* the physical activity sector

Secondary Healthcare Mental health inpatient teams (wards A referral partner who can identify people who would benefit
care provided by a and hospitals) from physical activity and refer them to local activities.
specialist upon Occupational health teams Promote activities and events.
referral from Private mental health providers Link to local mental health networks.
primary care. Psychiatrists, Psychological Wellbeing
Usually in a Practitioners (PWPs), Psychologists,
clinical setting. Psychotherapists and Therapists

Tertiary Highly Inpatient Children and young people’s A referral partner who can identify people who would benefit
care specialised mental health services (CYPMHS) from physical activity and refer them to local activities.
support and Secure forensic mental health services Link to local mental health networks.
treatment for
complex mental
health needs.

Voluntary Non- Mental health advice and information.

sector governmental • Community and faith groups Resources and insight from programmes developed to
(also organisations • Every Mind Matters support mental health through physical activity
referred that are not- • Mental health charities including (like Get Set to Go).
Mind, local Minds, Rethink Mental
to as third for-profit. Deliver mental health training courses.
Illness and Samaritans (for a full list
sector or Promote activities and events.
of charities please see Mental
charity A referral partner who can signpost people to local activities.
health charities)
sector)
• Physical activity charities including Support to signpost people to if they need mental health help.
Sport in Mind, Sporting Chance Trained volunteers who can provide peer support and
and State of Mind mentoring to participants.
Guidance on how to involve people with lived experience of
mental health in projects and activities.
Partner to help you access a broader range of funding.

*Please note that the names and structures of these stakeholders may vary between locations.

Working with the mental health sector Home 16

There are also a number of other stakeholders in the health, voluntary and public sectors that can support physical activity projects
and sessions:

Type Key stakeholders* Potential support for the physical activity sector

Children Children and young people’s mental health services A referral partner who can signpost CYP to local activities.
and Young (CYPMHS). These services are part of primary, Promote activities and events.
People secondary and tertiary care CYP advice and information.
(CYP) Children’s and youth centres Guidance around involving CYP with lived experience of mental
services Nurseries health in projects and activities.
Schools, colleges and universities Partner to help you access a broader range of funding.
Charities including Student Minds, Young Minds and
The Mix

Local Youth and community services A referral partner who can signpost people to local activities.
authority Social care services (you can find a series of video Promote activities and events.
guides explaining how social care works on the Support to signpost people to if they need mental health help.
King’s Fund website)

Housing Housing associations A referral partner who can signpost people to local activities.
Promote activities and events.
Partner to help you access a broader range of funding.

There are calls for mental health services to be integrated with physical health provision. This is because physical health and mental health are
interlinked – two thirds of people with a long-term physical health condition also have a co-morbid mental health problem5. This could reduce
services working in isolation and ensure people receive effective support as early as possible.

*Please note that the names and structures of these stakeholders may vary between locations.

5 NHS. Long Term Conditions and Medically Unexplained Symptoms.

Working with the mental health sector Home 17

Case study

Tees Active and Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind partnership

Tees Active is a charitable trust providing On the back of the partnership, Tees Active, in
sport, leisure, health and wellbeing services to collaboration with NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-
communities in Stockton-on-Tees. They decided Tees Clinical Commissioning Group, Middlesbrough
to improve their knowledge and understanding and Stockton Mind and Catalyst, created their
of mental health problems to ensure their Active Minds project. 113 people took part in the
services were inclusive. To help them, they project with 92% of those surveyed reporting an
built a partnership with their local Mind – improvement in their mental wellbeing.
Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind.
“The strength of the partnership
As part of the partnership, Tees Active offered
free activities and sessions at their facilities to is a result of the strong and
Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind’s Get Set to positive personal relationships
Go participants. They were held in the afternoon,
both organisations have worked to
a traditionally quieter time of day and convenient
for the local Mind’s members. In return, build, and the ability to support
Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind upskilled each other’s services.”
Tees Active’s staff and coaches to improve their
awareness of mental health. Allan McDermott, Sports Academy Manager
at Tees Active.
Learning from the partnership included providing
photos of the facility’s entrances so people would
know where to go. This helped reduce people’s
anxieties about starting an activity somewhere new.

Working with the mental health sector Home 18

National and regional strategies influencing mental health
Below are strategies that influence mental health. You could consider how your service can complement these to help the mental health
sector to achieve their objectives and priorities.

National strategies

The NHS’ Long Sets out the NHS’ priorities for healthcare between 2019 and 2029 and shows how NHS funding will be used.
Term Plan (2019) Key mental health elements include:
• Expanding support for perinatal mental health problems
• Increasing funding for children and young people’s mental health
• Spending at least £2.3billion more a year on mental health care
• Delivering community-based physical and mental care for 370,000 people with severe mental illness a year by
2023/24.

Transforming This green paper sets out the ambition that children and young people (CYP) who need help for their mental health can
children and get it when they need it.
young people’s Key points are:
mental health
provision: a green • Senior lead for mental health in schools/colleges to oversee the approach to mental health and wellbeing.
paper (2017) • Mental health support teams (MHSTs) set up to address the needs of CYP with mild to moderate mental health
problems, working with schools and colleges to link with more specialist NHS services.
• Piloting reduced waiting times for NHS services for CYP who need specialist help.

Cross- Sets out how the government will work with the NHS, local government and the voluntary sector to reduce suicides.
Government Suicide prevention: fourth annual report sets out what has been done to reduce deaths by suicide during 2017 and 2018.
Suicide
Prevention
Workplan (2019)

Together for Ten-year strategy to improve mental health and wellbeing across Wales.
Mental Health The Delivery Plan: 2019-22 can be found on the Welsh Government’s website.
in Wales (2012)

Working with the mental health sector Home 19

 Local and regional strategies

Sustainability Brings together all parts of the health sector, to show how they are planning to develop ‘place-based plans’ for the
and future of health and care services in their area.
Transformation You can find more information about local STPs across England on the NHS website.
Partnerships
(STPs)

Health and Determines the key health priorities in each local area.
wellbeing
strategy

Working with the mental health sector Home 20

Mental health campaigns
Below are some national campaigns and initiatives aimed at improving public health and wellbeing. You could consider how your service can
complement and integrate with these to maximise your resources and increase impact.

Campaign Overview Potential support for the physical activity sector

Time to Time to Change was established in Downloadable resources, posters and assets.
Change 2007 to reduce mental health-related A person story library to help people understand how mental health
stigma and discrimination. It was a problems can impact people’s lives.
social movement working to change the Campaigns including Time to Talk Day, In Your Corner and Ask Twice.
way we all think and act about mental Hubs and Champions for mental health support and guidance as well as
health problems. routes to people with lived experience of mental health problems.

Public Health A campaign to help people take simple A wellbeing support service you can signpost to.
England’s steps to look after their mental health, Guidance on how to help people experiencing mental health problems.
Every Mind improve their mental wellbeing and Videos with tips on improving your mental health.
Matters support others.

We Are A movement supporting those with Guidance on how people with long-term health conditions can get active.
Undefeatable long-term health conditions, including Personal stories from people with long-term health conditions around
mental health, to be more active. getting active.

Top tool
Our Stakeholder engagement tool (Appendix 5 ) can
help you engage and approach mental health organisations.

Working with the mental health sector Home 21

Case study

GLL’s Healthwise programme

Healthwise is a 12-week GP referral programme “I’ve found the support and
run by GLL. It’s designed to support inactive
people with long-term medical conditions to encouragement to go back to
become more active. swimming that was provided by
At the start of the Healthwise programme, this initiative invaluable in helping
participants have a consultation with a member me overcome my mental health
of staff to discuss their medical history, physical
challenges, and have started to
activity levels, the barriers they face and aspirations
for being active. This person-centred approach is feel more like the old me again.
critical for the success of the programme. When I prioritise my swimming
Healthwise participants receive a tailored and general health over the
programme and are offered access to classes and demands in the rest of my life,
courses designed to help them manage and improve
their condition. They have the opportunity to review
I feel a lot better. It has made
progress with staff throughout the programme all the difference.”
so it can be adapted to meet their needs. At the
Healthwise participant.
end of the programme, participants are offered a
discounted membership over a three-year period to
encourage them to be physically active long term.

Healthwise staff are trained in Mental Health First

Aid to help them support members around mental
health and signpost to relevant specialist support
if required.

Working with the mental health sector Home 22

 What is
mental health?

What causes mental

health problems?

Self-care and
treatment options
for mental
health problems

Working with the

Appendices
mental health
sector

• Appendices

Guide 1:
An introduction to mental health
Home 23
Appendix 1 - Mental health facts and statistics
Here are some useful facts and statistics about mental health. The content may be triggering so please read with caution and if you
require help please visit our website.

• One in four people will experience a mental health problem of some • In 2020, one in six children (5-16 years old) experience a probable
kind each year in England1. mental health problem, up from one in nine in 2017 1.

• One in six people report experiencing a common mental health • Half of all mental health problems have been established by the age
problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England . 2
of 14, rising to 75% by the age of 248.

• On average, people with mental health problems die 15 to 20 years • Failure to address the mental health of people with long-term
earlier than those without3. physical health problems and poor management of medically
unexplained symptoms costs the NHS in England more than
• 23% of Black or Black British people will experience a common £11billion a year9.
mental health problem in any given week. This compares to 17% of
White British people2.

• Black or Black British groups are more than four times more likely to You can find more on our website.
be detained under the Mental Health Act than White groups4 .

• Across the UK, men and women in the poorest fifth of the
population are twice as likely to be at risk of developing mental
health problems as those on an average income5.

• On average, disabled adults report poorer wellbeing levels

(including happiness, feeling worthwhile, life satisfaction and
anxiety) than non-disabled people6.

• Evidence suggests that people who identify as LGBTQ+ in England

are two to three times more likely than heterosexual people to
report having a longstanding mental health problem7.

1 McManus, S et al (2009). Adult psychiatric morbidity in England, 2007: results of a household survey.
2 McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. (eds.) (2016). Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult psychiatric morbidity survey 2014.
3 The British Medical Journal (2013). Premature death among people with mental illness.
4 NHS (2017). Five Year Forward View for Mental Health: One Year On.
5 Public Health England (2019). Better mental health: JSNA toolkit: 2 Understanding place.
6 ONS (2019). Disability, well-being and loneliness, UK: 2019.
7 Elliott, Kanouse, Burkhart, Abel, Lyratzopoulos, Beckett, et al. (2015). Sexual minorities in England have poorer health and worse health care experiences: a national survey.
8 Mental Health Task Force (2016). The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health
9 Kings Fund (2016). Bringing together physical and mental health: A new frontier for integrated care.

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Appendix 2 - Mental health language
It is important that your language is as inclusive as possible. People have different ways of describing their own mental health and
it is important that where possible you follow their lead.

Mental health problems, issues or illness Language and terminology

The language around mental health can be confusing, especially as Certain language can cause offence and may be inaccurate when
different organisations use different terms. used in news stories, publications, posters, documents or in
everyday discussions. Here are the most common, as well as
At Mind, we use the phrase ‘mental health problems’ as many people some alternative suggestions.
who experience them have told us this feels helpful and appropriate for
them. However, language like ‘mental health conditions’, ‘issues’ and
‘illnesses’ are generally accepted and used by other charities
and organisations.

Avoid using Instead try

‘a psycho’ or ‘a schizo’ ‘a person who has experienced psychosis’ or ‘a person who has schizophrenia’

‘a schizophrenic’ or ‘a depressive’ someone who ‘has a diagnosis of’ is ‘currently experiencing’ or ‘is being treated for…‘

‘lunatic’ ‘nutter’ ‘unhinged’ ‘a person experiencing a mental health problem’

‘maniac’ ‘mad’

‘the mentally ill’, ‘a person ‘mental health patients’ or ‘people experiencing mental health problems’
suffering from’ ‘a sufferer’, a
‘victim’ or ‘the afflicted’

‘prisoners’ or ‘inmates’ (in a ‘patients’, ‘service users’ or ‘clients’

psychiatric hospital)

‘released’ (from a hospital) ‘discharged’

‘happy pills’ ‘antidepressants’, ‘medication’ or ‘prescription drugs’

‘committed suicide’ ‘died by suicide’ or ‘ended or took their life’

Appendices Home 25
Mental health definitions
This table defines some of the key terms used in mental health.
You can find a full list of terms on our website and a glossary as part of this toolkit.

Care Plan A plan developed between a person and a team of mental health professionals, which outlines how their care will
be coordinated.

Children and young Services that support young people with their mental health including talking therapies, medication and possibly
people’s mental health hospital treatment.
services (CYPMHS) You may also see the term children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) used. This is an older term
for the main specialist NHS community service within the wider CYPMHS that may be available locally.

Clinical Commissioning Clinically-led statutory NHS bodies responsible for the planning and commissioning of health care services in
Group (CCG) each local area.

Commissioning The process of looking at health needs in a local area and putting in place services to meet those needs. It’s
about setting priorities and paying providers (like NHS mental health trusts or local voluntary groups) to provide
health services for local people.

Community Mental Supports people living in the community who have complex or serious mental health problems. They include a
Health Teams (CMHTs) range of mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.

Community Psychiatric A registered nurse with specialist training who works with people receiving community-based mental health care
Nurse (CPN) or (for example, care outside of hospital).
Community Mental
Health Nurses (CMHNs)

Comorbidity When someone has more than one physical or mental health problem at the same time.

Counselling See talking therapies.

Appendices Home 26
 Crisis A mental health crisis is when a person feels at breaking point and needs urgent help. For example, someone
might be feeling extremely anxious and having panic attacks, or self-harming or feeling suicidal.

Crisis Plan The support a person might need if they’re in a mental health crisis. It can include information about early
warning signs, treatment preferences and childcare arrangements. Referred to as a joint crisis plan (JCP) if
developed with mental health professionals.

Crisis services Any service available at short notice to help someone resolve their crisis or support them while it is happening.
Find out more on our website.

Early intervention An early intervention team works with anyone who is experiencing a first episode of psychosis or is at significant
teams (EITs) risk of doing so.

Forensic or secure Specialist services providing treatment for adults with mental health problems who are at significant risk of
mental health service harming themselves or others. Patients are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Improving access A programme offering talking therapies for common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.
to psychological Also referred to as ‘psychological services (IAPT)’ in some areas.
therapies (IAPT)

Lived experience Refers to involving people with lived experience of mental health problems in the development of new or existing
engagement services of projects. See Guide 3: Involving people with lived experience of mental health problems in the design
and delivery of your work.

Local Mind(s) There are a network of around 120 local Minds across England and Wales providing mental health services in local
communities. They are their own independent charities but form Mind’s federated network.

People with lived This term includes people who directly experience mental health problems, people who support a family member
experience of mental or friend who experience mental health problems or those who work to support or care for them.
health problems

Psychiatrist Psychiatrists are medically qualified doctors who diagnose and treat people with mental health problems.

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 Psychological Wellbeing A Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner works within the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
Practitioner (PWP) service. They are trained to deliver talking therapies to help people understand and manage their emotions
and behaviour.

Psychologist Psychologists study the mind including how people think, feel and behave. There are different types of
psychologists including sport psychologists. Clinical psychologists specialise in mental health and provide talking
therapies to help people treat and manage their mental health problems. They do not diagnose mental health
problems or prescribe treatment.

Psychotherapist Provide talking therapies to help people treat and manage their mental health problems. They do not diagnose
mental health problems or prescribe treatment.

Psychotherapy See talking therapies.

Recovery College A place where people with lived experience of mental health problems can work together to design and attend
courses that wouldn’t typically be offered in other educational settings (like courses in understanding recovery
and peer support training).

Sectioning/being Admitted to hospital for treatment of mental health problems under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983.
sectioned

Social prescribing When healthcare professionals refer people to community services that don’t take place in traditional medical
settings (for example, exercise classes, gardening sessions or art groups). You can find more information on the
King’s Fund website.

Talking therapies Talking therapies cover a wide range of treatments which involve talking to a trained professional (such as a
Talking therapies psychotherapist or counsellor) about your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Usually there’s very little difference between counselling, psychotherapy and psychological therapy – they all
broadly refer to talking therapy. But sometimes they might indicate differences in who the therapist is, or refer
to a specific type of talking therapy.

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Appendix 3 - Mental health training
There are many mental health training courses available and it can be confusing to know what courses are appropriate and accredited.
The table below lists the most popular and relevant.

Course Overview

Mental Health This online course is aimed at everyone who works in clubs, community sport and physical activity – such as coaches,
Awareness activators, front of house staff, administrators and volunteers. This course aims to give you the knowledge, skills and
for Sport confidence to better understand and support people experiencing mental health problems, and create a positive
and Physical environment that ensures they enjoy the benefits of being active and keep coming back for more.
Activity+
eLearning

Mind’s Workplace Poor mental health is now the number one reason for staff absence. Our mental health training offers a cost-effective
wellbeing training way to promote mental wellbeing in your organisation and at home.

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The following courses haven’t been developed by Mind but we feel they may help to increase your knowledge and confidence around mental health.

Course Overview

Mental Health Mental Health First Aid aims to help you learn how to identify, understand and support someone who may be
First Aid (MHFA) experiencing problems with their mental health. They have courses focused on adults, youth, higher education and
armed forces. There are half-day, one-day or two-day options for each course.
The courses are delivered by a range of organisations including many local Minds.

Zero Suicide Free online awareness course, which aims to provide a better understanding of the signs to look out for and the skills
Alliance training required to approach someone who may be having suicidal thoughts.

ASIST: Applied A two-day interactive workshop that focuses on how to provide suicide first aid interventions. It aims to upskill
Suicide participants to recognise when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will
Intervention support their immediate safety.
Skills Training

Loughborough This online CPD course is designed to improve coaches’ knowledge and confidence in identifying eating problems and
University’s to provide them with tools on how to support athletes who may be struggling.
Disordered Eating
in Athletes

Find out more about mental health courses.

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Appendix 4 - Mental health charities
The table below lists many of the charities working in mental health.

Anxiety UK A charity for those affected by anxiety, stress and anxiety-based depression.
Contact: [email protected]

Beat UK’s leading eating disorder charity. They provide a national helpline and guidance to support those experiencing eating
disorders.
Contact: [email protected]

Bipolar UK A charity supporting people affected by bipolar disorder. They provide information, advice and support by phone, email
and through their website.
Contact: [email protected]

Campaign A charity dedicated to preventing male suicide. CALM offers support, advice, and pushes for changes in policy and
Against Living practice in suicide prevention.
Miserably Contact: [email protected]
(CALM)

Mental Health A charity specialising in research and policy development, with a focus on preventing mental health problems.
Foundation Contact: through a contact form on their website

Mental Health A charity delivering services for people with mental health needs and other complex issues such as learning disabilities
Matters and drug and alcohol problems.
Contact: [email protected]

MindOut A mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay men, bisexual, trans and queer people.
Contact: [email protected]

National A service-user-led charity that connects people with experience of mental health problems to give them a stronger voice
Survivor User in shaping policy and services.
Network (NSUN) Contact: [email protected]

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 Papyrus A charity specialising in the prevention of young suicide (for people under 35). They provide support and advice to young
people struggling, deliver suicide prevention projects and training, and shape policy around suicide prevention.
Contact: [email protected]

Rethink Mental A charity that runs services and support groups, campaigns for policy change and provides expert, accredited advice
IllnessRethink and information.
Mental Illness Contact: [email protected]

Samaritans A charity providing emotional support for anyone feeling down, experiencing distress or struggling to cope through their
Samaritans website and helpline.
Contact: [email protected]

SANE A charity working to improve the quality of life for people affected by mental illness.
Contact: [email protected]

Scottish Scotland’s leading mental health charity. They provide help, information, and campaigns on behalf of people experiencing
Association for mental health problems.
Mental Health Contact: [email protected]
(SAMH)

Student Minds A student mental health charity that delivers training, campaigns for better student mental health and facilitates peer
Student Minds support projects.
Contact: [email protected]

Together A charity providing a range of services to meet the different needs of people experiencing mental health problems.
Contact: [email protected]

Young Minds A charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people. Provides information for both
Young Minds parents and young people.
Contact: [email protected]

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Appendix 5 - Stakeholder engagement tool
This tool can help you engage and approach appropriate stakeholders. First, answer the following questions to help you identify
appropriate stakeholders.

Question Considerations Answer

What am I What are the outcomes you are trying

aiming to do to achieve?
and why?

What support Think about training (see Appendix 3 ),

do I need to expertise, funding, promotion and links
achieve this? to target audience.

Who can provide What organisations provide the

this support? support you need to achieve your aims
and outcomes? Organisations in the
voluntary sector may be a good
starting place.

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Next, answer the questions below for ideas on how to approach your identified stakeholders.

Question Considerations Answer

What are the Look at their website and search

stakeholder’s for information like their strategy,
key priorities? priorities and the challenges they are
trying to overcome.
Research the key national and
regional strategies and mental health
campaigns shaping their work.

How can my Think about the support you can

service help provide them. For example, a
them to service they can refer their users
achieve this? to, equipment, venue, coaches and
workforce, promotion
and training.

Have they been See if they have any information on

involved or used their website or contact them directly.
physical activity
to achieve
their outcomes
before?

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 Question Considerations Answer

Is there any This may encourage them to work

research, with you.
statistics or Guide 2: The relationship between
case studies physical activity and mental health,
demonstrating showcases the benefits of physical
the positive activity on mental health which may be
impact of useful when contacting stakeholders.
working
together?

Who is the Can you find out who is the

best person organisation’s decision-maker? Are
to contact? there any staff who could champion
your enquiry? Maybe they have a
passion for, or are involved in, sport
and physical activity.

How is best to If you have a named contact then it

contact them? may be best to email them and follow
up with a phone call.

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Have a question or
would like more information?
You can find more information at mind.org.uk.
Or why not take a look at the other guides in our
Mental Health and Physical Activity Toolkit.

If you have any further questions, please contact

our Physical Activity team at [email protected].

Produced with support from

Mind, 15-19 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 4BQ

Registered Charity No. 219830