Sport and Mental Health

People with mental disorder experience an increased risk of physical diseases due to the high rate of physical comorbidities, which leads to an overall reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. There is a great potential for physical activity and sport to overcome, at least partially, health inequality experienced by individuals with mental disorders. Indeed, an active lifestyle has been shown to bring important benefits to the general population as well as to individuals at risk or experiencing mental disorder. There is now sufficient scientific evidence to include this type of activity in psychoeducational interventions as it also has the potential for fostering social relationships, increasing resilience and combating stigma. While more basic research and specific clinical trials are needed to assess the potential (positive) interaction of physical activity with pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, the current evidence and the guidelines issued by important scientific societies, such as the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), call for acting now to incorporate physical activity programmes as a new standard of care for mental disorders.