LFR and Mental Health

What are the LFR Mental Health Runs?

Running is an excellent way to tackle stress and relieve pressure, to alleviate moody cheerlessness and to enhance your physical condition.

It is also an excellent excuse to get you out and about on a Sunday afternoon.

The LFR MHR are nothing more than the above and are always scheduled to take place on a Sunday afternoon, so that the Saturday evening revellers may have some extra time to recuperate and join us.

The distance we run is between 10 to 15 km and the pace is always extremely sociable, as our main aim is to have a really good time together, getting to know each other better, chatting and catching up.

We do not psychoanalyze each other while running nor do we offer pompous suggestions on depression afterwards at the pub.

We most definitely try to avoid exchanging “inspirational quotes on mental health”.

We simply run and we talk and we listen.

And, often, by describing and defining certain circumstances by their proper names, we ourselves become aware and so we raise awareness of the importance of mental health among our community.

So, if you have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon, come and run and chat with us!

It’s time to run, it’s time to talk, it’s time to change!

Most people will experience a mental health episode at some time in their life and LFR is here to offer support. Frequent exercise in combination with talking about mental health issues, have been recognised as two great ways of beating the symptoms of melancholia, depression and other mental health problems. And, LFR, now being part of the England Athletics Mental Health Ambassador programme, can deliver both.

There are a number of very common misconceptions about mental health and it is a challenging issue, especially for LGBT+ people.The existing stigma, amidst the discrimination, violence and inequality that reigns in society, casts a very dark shadow and can have a truly profound and negative impact on people with mental health problems. Navigating our way through life is difficult enough and very often other problems are added, relative to our journey in LGBT+ life and experiences. From on-line dating to perceptions of body image and to our relationship with alcohol and substance abuse, the challenges we face are numerous.We don’t need to face them alone, though.

For tackling depression and other mental health conditions there are several treatments which, with guidance from your GP, can be used as alternatives to or in combination with antidepressants: talking being one of them. Exercising on a regular basis – and there is nothing more regular than four running and three coaching sessions per week- helps boosting the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which can lift a person’s mood. One sleeps better after a good running session, one also thinks clearer and running clears one’s head. It is a well-documented fact that running, besides having a positive effect on your health and physique, reduces anxiety and stress.

England Athletics and Mental Health

The England Athletics Mental Health Ambassador programme aims to establish at this first stage a volunteer network in and among running clubs, all over the UK, to inspire people who are experiencing mental health problems to start running, to motivate ex-runners to get back into running and to support those running to continue. The ambition is to improve through running and talking the mental well-being of their members.

EA advocates running and talking and it is always good to talk about mental health but talking about your struggles to a good friend or to an empathising, attuned and willing ear, while running, may not be enough. In most cases, it is important to seek the advice, assistance and support of professionals.

Here is where you may obtain professional support:

Samaritans

Samaritans offer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, confidential, free helplines, where you may talk anytime you like, in your own way. They are there to listen to anything that is upsetting you, worries and troubles, including intrusive thoughts and even more difficult thoughts of suicide and self-harm. They are also able to offer contact details for organisations that specialise in helping you with a problem you may have.

Samaritans website
Helpline: 116 123
E-mail: [email protected]

Mind

Mind is a mental health charity, providing support and advice, as to take the first steps, making empowered decisions and getting the right support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They are able to offer a wide range of support, which, among others, include a confidential info-line, free information-resources and further help through an efficient network. They may also provide information about seeking help outside the NHS and how to support someone else to seek help.

Mind website
Mind info line: 0300 123 3393, with lines being open 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday, except on Bank Holidays
E-Mail: [email protected]

More detailed info on crisis services may be found here
Mind’s guide to support someone else to seek help for a mental health problem can be found here.
Mind’s support page relative to the LGBT+ Community, click here.

England Athletics are currently carrying out a review of the Mental Health Ambassador program, aiming to take on board and implement a number of new recommendations. They have therefore decided not to process any new applications for Mental Health Ambassadors at present, until these changes have been made. Applications though will re-open in April 2018 and a sizeable club as ours may have, or better, should have more than one Mental Health Ambassador, an objective which I will personally and warmly encourage.

LFR and Mental Health

One of the main reasons I feel so passionate in my commitment to raise awareness of mental health problems among LFR is mainly because I want to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone. I want to help our runners find the courage to share their own experiences with others and realise the great importance – and healing power – of speaking out. The more people open up about their mental health, the more it transpires that there are so many other people around us who are going through something similar.

For LFR it’s about creating a positive atmosphere of openness, awareness and acceptance as to be able to address mental health in the same way physical health is addressed. I also want to make clear that confidentiality and discretion are absolutely essential and will be fully respected.

Future Steps

Ever since I became a member of LFR, it’s going to be five years this coming May, I have been able to witness the extent running has encouraged self-esteem and improved confidence in myself and among many of my friends. In the following months I aim to create and present the LFR Mental Health Action Plan, inclusive and accessible to all Club members, which will combine organising specific running opportunities, with inviting LFR members to share their stories and mental health specialists to talk about guidance and support.

For all further inquiries, please send an e-mail to: [email protected]

Finally and most important of all, you are not alone!
It starts here, with me and you.
It’s time to talk, it’s time to run and it’s time to ensure that we are all better together.
Please come and talk to me, please come and run with me, whenever you feel like it!

Christos
EA Mental Health Ambassador

Mind logo