How to improve your mental health using physical activity

A guide on the mental health benefits of exercise, and how to improve your mental health with physical activity.

Smoking and mental health

Why smoking is so addictive, and ways to help you quit.

Physical activity improves lives of people with severe mental health problems

A study of 31 people with severe mental health problems in Northern Ireland conducted by the Mental Health Foundation has revealed evidence of the beneficial impact of physical exercise.

Empowering people through physical activity

Sports and physical activity initiatives

At the Mental Health Foundation, we've been working through sport to help support good mental health. Our work focuses on supporting sports organisations who invest in communities at higher risk of developing mental ill-health.

Physical activity and mental health

How active you should be, and things to consider before getting started.

Long-term physical conditions and mental health

What long-term physical conditions are, how they can affect your mental health and getting support.

Nutrition and mental health

One of the most obvious yet under-recognised factors for mental health is nutrition. What we eat and drink affects how we feel, think and behave.

Diet and mental health

How diet and mental health are linked, what you should eat, sharing meals with other people, and eating disorders.

Mental health and physical activity in Northern Ireland

The Mental Health Foundation received funding from DRILL (Disability Research on Independent Living & Learning) to conduct a one-year pilot study to address the high levels of physical ill-health and preventable deaths of people with serious mental health problems in Northern Ireland.