How can sports providers contribute to residents’ mental health?

1. How important is exercise and sports for mental health?

Sport and exercise can help you become and maintain mental health. For example, it can contribute to increased self-confidence and a positive self-image. It can also reduce psychological complaints, such as stress or feelings of depression (Anderson et al., 2019; Bailey et al., 2017; Ether et al., 2023; Amy et al., 2013; Rebar et al., 2015). Sports and exercising with others can also contribute to social behavior and a sense of belonging (Anderson et al., 2019; Ether et al., 2023; Amy et al., 2013).

Being mentally healthy is not a given for everyone: 14 percent of adults in the Netherlands and 10 percent of young people (12-17 years) feel mentally unhealthy. People who feel mentally unhealthy exercise less and do less exercise than people who feel mentally healthy (Van Stam et al., 2024).

Mental illness can be an (additional) reason for not exercising or exercising less. For example, people who feel mentally unhealthy have less energy, more stress, lower self-confidence, and less motivation to exercise (Oms et al., 2020). Therefore, they benefit less from the positive effects of sport and exercise on their mental health. So there are still opportunities here.

Also read this previous article by Moliere on sports and mental health: