extract from medscape.com
Medscape Medical News from the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) 61st Annual Conference
Exercise a Viable Treatment Option for Mental Illness
October 21, 2011 (Vancouver, British Columbia) — Exercise is an effective, but potentially underused, treatment option for mental illness, experts say.
In a symposium presented here at the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) 61st Annual Conference, Christopher Willer, MD, a senior psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, made the case for exercise as an adjunctive therapy.
Emerging research, he said, strongly suggests that exercise can improve patients’ physical and mental health and may help offset some of the metabolic effects associated with older antidepressants and newer atypical antipsychotics.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/751962
Go Dr Willer!
Yes, it is a bit of a shame that the CPA is only talking of excercise as “adjunct” [add-on] therapy but it’s a start. Can you move a bit faster guys?
other stories…
In UK the National Centre for Clinical Excellence states that patients presenting to their GP with symptoms of depression have better outcomes than if prescribed a programme of anti-depressants. InUK many Doctors have more freedom to chose from a a wider range of options paid for by the health system and will often hook patients into a programme originally devised for those with diabetes and run by organisations like YMCA – people sign on to a 12 week customised programme and get support from a coach who helps them reintroduce enjoyable excercise into their lives.
also from UK..
this one’s a bit didactic [bossy] but has a good info and a nice thing on steps you might follow to [re]introduce more exercise into your life…
Exercise and Mental Health
Physical activity is also good for your mental health. Experts believe that exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can also boost self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep, look and feel better.
“When I left the gym that morning I felt as if someone had given me a million pounds – it was the sense of achievement.”
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/E/exercise-mental-health/
Free your mind and your ass will follow…
and remember excercise isn’t just about going to gym:
any moving helps: find what you enjoy and do that.
You’ll likely do it more often than something that feels like torture, or “excercise”.
I started a new exercise regime – I now do situps every day. In the morning I sit up, at night I lie down.
Billy Connolly
In Toronto
Check out Boost Your Mood at MDAO -a food/ nutrition excercise programme at MDAO. more on that later from one of our contributors, Bart..
Meaghan Buisson
Come to the conference or the psychosium to hear Meaghan Buisson -Team Canada Athlete and World Record Holder for Solo In-line [skating] marathon – talk about the role that being active plays in her life – Meaghan is awesome – and fast: she has twice been ticketed [allegedly] for speeding on skates .
http://understandingpsychosisexploringalternatives.wordpress.com/about/
agnotarte
dave umbongo
drkenplacebo
highfellow
recoverynetwork:Toronto
recovery network: Toronto 
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