In the run up to Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May 2019), BH Live is putting Portsmouth’s health and wellbeing high on its agenda.
Over the past 12 months more than 100 Portsmouth residents have taken part in close to 4,000 hours of health and wellbeing activities through Portsmouth Interaction; provider of recreation and fitness activities for people with mental health conditions.
This is 11% more people than in previous years and can be attributed to better awareness of support services and a 160% increase in GP and self-referrals. There is also a better understanding of the relationship between physical activity, social interaction and good mental health.
Collaboration between healthcare providers, the NHS, Portsmouth City Council and organisations such as Solent Mind, is helping to break down the stigma associated with mental health conditions. Together they share an ambition through a newly formed Portsmouth Anti Stigma Partnership to promote mental health awareness and get more people onto a path of recovery.
Portsmouth Interaction is run by BH Live and supported by a team of experienced volunteers and partners. Weekly swimming, cycling, arts and crafts, walking, conservation, bowling and snooker run across Portsmouth’s leisure centres, green spaces and in community venues. Walking basketball, badminton, gym sessions and table tennis also run at Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.
Kerry Morgan who manages the service for BH Live explains why it is a lifeline to so many people across the city. She said,
“Increasingly mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and stress, will affect many of us at some point in our lifetime and in Portsmouth the suicide rate is significantly higher than the England average.
“We are going some way towards improving mental health in our community. However, we want to reach more people and make an even bigger difference.”
The UK’s Mental Health Awareness Week has been run by the Mental Health Foundation since 2001. It focuses on topics such as stress, relationships, loneliness, sleep, alcohol and friendship. This year the campaign is concentrating on body image.
Kerry explains,
“Some medication can cause side effects such as weight gain and tiredness which can slow recovery and create feelings of self-consciousness. Many people try to camouflage their feelings, avoid social situations and cope on their own which increases feelings of isolation.”
Regular exercise and physical activity is proven to help with much of this and Kerry believes this is one of the reasons the sessions with Portsmouth Interaction are so popular.
She said,
“Because our sport, recreation and exercise sessions are run in safe spaces people can focus on what they are doing without the added pressures of feeling looked at or judged.
“Speaking with others who are either going through, or have gone through, similar experiences is also hugely beneficial.”
“This is encouraging more people onto a path of recovery which will ultimately reduce pressures on healthcare service providers and result in healthier communities.”
Dr Jason Horsley, Director of Public Health at Portsmouth City Council, adds,
“People suffering with mental health problems, such as anxiety or stress, may feel like exercise is the last thing that they want to be doing but it can make such a positive difference.
“The added benefit of the service that Portsmouth Interaction offers is that you can take part in fitness activities alongside people who understand what it’s like to be suffering with poor mental health. This combination of peer support and being active should really help people to boost their mental wellbeing.”
Find out more about Mental Health Awareness week at mentalhealth.org.uk.
Residents are also invited to visit Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Leisure Centre on Wednesday 15 May between 10am-4pm to chat with the Portsmouth Interaction team about mental health support services in the city.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
Contact Portsmouth Interaction:
Telephone: 023 9320 0369
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live
BH Live is the south coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
With more than five million visits a year and £42 million turnover we are changing lives and are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2017/18 we had 4.5 million leisure centre attendances, hosted more than 500 events and sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment event tickets. We also welcomed 59,000 conference and exhibition delegates.
This generated an estimated £53 million in local economic benefit.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us: LinkedIn, Twitter @BHLIVE_UK and Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
In Hampshire, BH Live operates the following venues in partnership with Portsmouth City Council:
- Mountbatten Leisure Centre – Portsmouth’s flagship leisure and event venue with a national-class 50m swimming pool, 150 station gym, eight-court sports hall, squash, spin and dance studios, a cycle velodrome, athletics track, function suites with bars, a café and soft play facility. It is also home to a Clip ‘N Climb leisure attraction which opened in 2018.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.
Get social with us: Twitter and Facebook @mountbattenlc
- Pyramids Centre – one of Portsmouth’s leading entertainment and leisure venues overlooking Southsea beach and the Solent. It has fun pools, flumes, a wave machine and a three-level soft play adventure world. There is also a multipurpose gym, 70+ weekly group exercise classes and a spa.
It also hosts regular live music events, conferences, exhibitions.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk and bhlivetickets.co.uk
Get social with us: Twitter @PyramidsCentre @PyramidsLive @bhlivetickets
Facebook @Pyramids.Centre @PyramidsLive @bhlivetickets
- Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre – state-of-the-art gymnastics hall, physiotherapy room and meeting room.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.
Get social with us: Facebook @PortsmouthGymnasticsCentre
- Portsmouth Tennis Centre – A 10 court tennis facility in the north of Portsmouth consisting of four indoor courts and six floodlit outdoor courts. A comprehensive tennis coaching programme caters for all ages and abilities and is the area’s hub of accessible tennis. The programme runs sessions for tots, juniors, adults and also includes variations of the sport such as cardio tennis and touch tennis.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.
Get social with us: Twitter @PortsTennis and Facebook @PortsmouthTC
- Eastney Swimming Pool – 20m swimming pool and a spectators’ area.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.
Get social with us: Facebook @EastneyPool
- Wimbledon Park Sports Centre – 20 station gym, five badminton courts, basketball court and sports hall.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.
Get social with us: Facebook @WimbledonParkSportsCentre
- Charter Community Sports Centre – 20m swimming pool, 20 station gym, sports hall and an outdoor multi-use games area.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk.
Get social with us: Facebook @CharterCommunitySC