Physical activity is central to good mental and physical health, and small changes – like a daily walk with a friend – can lift your mood. But with lockdowns, restrictions and worries throughout the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, making time for our own wellbeing was harder than ever and the wellbeing of the entire nation suffered.
In June 2021, with some restrictions easing, Feel Your Personal Best was launched to help people take care of their physical and mental health. Backed by Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy, the campaign, a partnership between sportscotland and SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health), aimed to help as many people as possible feel the benefits of physical activity. Physical activity doesn’t need to be strenuous to be effective. The campaign wasn’t about clocking steps, miles or fastest times, it was about finding your own way to get moving, so you could feel your personal best.
An online toolkit was developed for supporting organisations while the campaign was heavily promoted by Active Schools and their networks as well as the Young People’s Sport Panel, Active Schools and their networks. Online tools and resources from SAMH were made available and promoted heavily throughout for anyone who was struggling with their mental health, or who knew someone who was.
People up and down the country engaged with the campaign on social media, posting videos explaining what it is that makes them feel at their best and encouraging others to do the same
Many powerful stories were shared throughout the campaign, such as Colin’s. Putting on his running shoes helped Colin negotiate the darkest of times.
Colin, from Orkney, started running due to mental health issues stemming from a gambling and alcohol addiction dating back to when he was just 17 years old. Now at 42, Colin is putting in the miles and getting his buzz from hitting the trails.
Colin said: “I used to be really active when I was a boy, with golf and football being my main sports. When I turned 17, that is when I turned to alcohol and I would just hide in the bookmakers throwing my money away.
“At that age I didn’t know what I was doing and how much it was going to affect me. I was desperate to get a big win and it was all about the buzz and adrenaline once I put a bet on. If it didn’t come in, then I would turn to alcohol to numb the pain.
“Around 6 years ago was the turning point for me. Having gone through another rough patch with my addictions, my partner persuaded me to go out for a run and if I didn’t get my life back on track then that was it and she was out the door.
“I decided to do as she said and went out for a couple of miles. When I returned the endorphins immediately kicked in and that was me. Running gave me the same adrenaline rush I would get from gambling but in a much more positive way.
“From then on, I went out every morning, persevered and gradually ran further and got quicker.
"Running has helped me cut back on my drinking, I have stopped smoking and it’s assisted me through my gambling addiction.”
Sean Graham, from Livingston, really struggled with his mental health during lockdown and found it difficult to get outside. However, when he started hillwalking with his friends, he began to open up to them. Last summer he climbed Ben Lomond to raise funds for SAMH.
Sean said: “I’d been struggling with my mental health for about year, then lockdown came and I was totally stuck in a rut. I was withdrawing from my friends, always making up excuses but hoping they wouldn’t notice.
“Things came to a head when I got in an argument with my mum. Finally, I opened up to my sister, I’d tried to tell her before but found it hard to bring it up randomly - it felt like it was never a good conversation to have. She encouraged me to see my GP and I started to find that the more I talked about it the better it was - I wish I’d done it earlier.
“Getting outside during the first lockdown was hard, I was spending a lot of time in my room because it felt like a safe space, but my brother told me I had to keep getting out. That’s when I started hill walking with my friends.
“We started going to places locally for walks, and I realised just how blind I had been to the beauty of Scotland. Before we started hill walking, the only other person my age that I’d talked to about my mental health was my partner. I’m able to be open to my friends while we’re out training, and they don’t treat me different or try to wrap me in cotton wool.
“It’s been really good for my mental health. I’ve found it to be such a brilliant method of coping, even after a bad day exercise can make me feel really good."
In August #TrySomethingNew was launched. While still part of Feel Your Personal Best, this focused on encouraging people to try a sport or physical activity they hadn’t before. The Young People’s Sport Panel (YPSP) were heavily involved in #TrySomethingNew, trying new activities themselves and encouraging others to do the same.
YPSP member Molly Sands tried archery as part of the challenge. She said: “Getting involved in a new sport or physical activity is a great way for people to put themselves out there, meet new people and try new things."
"It can be scary trying something new, especially if you don’t know other people there. But you never know how much you’ll enjoy something, and who you’ll meet, until you give it a go.”
Find out more
About SAMH
About #PlayingOurPart2022
