Movement for mental health
MOVEMENT IS KEY TO BETTER MENTAL HEALTH
The evidence on how good moving is for our mental health is clear. But policy and funding haven’t caught up.
United for Global Mental Health is leading the global push to change that, working with athletes, donors, researchers, UN agencies, implementers and the sporting goods industry.
Movement and mental health in numbers
- Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of depression by up to 30%.
- In a US study of 1.2 million people, those who exercised had 1.49 fewer days of poor mental health a month than those who didn’t.
- Nearly one in three adults worldwide, 1.8 billion people, don’t get enough physical activity.
- Among young people aged 11-17, 81% don’t get enough physical activity.
THE EVIDENCE
Robust research consistently demonstrates a powerful connection between physical activity and mental well-being across all age groups.
For older adults, engaging in 30 minutes of moderate activity daily almost halves the likelihood of experiencing depression.
Crucially, the benefits of exercise begin with as little as 20 minutes per week, offering a meaningful shield against psychological distress.
And beyond prevention, physical activity and sport play a vital developmental role in young people by strengthening their self-worth, building confidence, and supporting healthy, positive relationships.
Read more about the evidence in this Global Mental Health Action Network and lululemon report.
Convening a movement
Promising work on movement and mental health is happening around the world, but it’s mostly local and fragmented. United for Global Mental Health convenes the people who can change that.
We’re bringing together movement and sport implementers, sporting and exercise industry organisations, mental health civil society, academics, UN agencies and donors to put movement and mental health on the global health agenda and shape the policies and funding that make it accessible to everyone.
Hear below why movement matters, from some of our friends and partners.
"Movement is beneficial to my state of mind and confidence…:
Siviwe Soyizwapi: Rugby Player for South Africa's Springboks Sevens
For Siviwe, professional rugby player, ‘Move for Mental Health’ is about confidence and rejuvenation. Movement helps him forget the stresses and enjoy the present.
"Young people are telling us they need this…"
Nicole Bardikoff, Grand Challenges Canada
Nicole is the mental health lead at GCC, and spoke to us about the importance of movement on young people’s mental health.
"We're much more powerful when we're in this together"
Anne Wintroub, lululemon
Anne, Head of Social Impact and Engagement at lululemon, told us about why the movement for mental health is so important for the brand, and why a coalition is around this space is vital.
"Movement helps me process the day. It's such a vital part of my life."
Cullen Jones: Professional Swimmer, Olympian, World Record Holder
Cullen tells us that movement for mental health is about getting young people to understand how important physical movement is.
"The links between physical and mental health are very real."
Sarah Kline, UnitedGMH
Sarah was invited to a panel discussion, hosted by the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry, to discuss how physical and mental health are clearly linked.
"A move for mental health is a move for wellness…"
Charmaine Nyakonda: Grassroot Soccer
Charmaine, from Grassroot Soccer in Zimbabwe tells us that movement for mental health is about recognising the importance of investing in fun, play-based, sport-based innovations for adolescent mental health prevention and promotion.
What We’re Working Towards
Global recognition.
Movement for mental health becomes a high-profile theme at global sporting events, backed by sports stars, political leaders and global brands.
Political commitment.
Commitments in international processes like the G7, G20 and UN General Assembly, matched by countries, with young people shaping the solutions.
Less stigma.
Athletes speak openly about lived experience, local programmes link to global role models, and families and communities gain mental health literacy.
Berlin Marathon: UnitedGMH x lululemon
Moving for mental health, in Berlin.
As an example of movement and mental health becoming a theme at global events, together with our partners at lululemon and hosted by Midnight Runners, we ran the Berlin Marathon for mental health.
Renowned influencers and athletes ran for UnitedGMH and used their platforms to talk about the role movement plays in their own wellbeing.
Join us
If your work is relevant to movement and mental health, and you’d be interested in working together to push it up the global political and sporting agenda, we’d love to hear from you.
Email hello@unitedgmh.org
