Shift Supports #TeamUnbreakable
Shift Cognitive Therapy + Assessment is very proud to have supported Cameron Helps, a charitable organization whose goal is to protect youth from anxiety, depression and suicide by fostering lifelong exercise through running. Over the past few months, a group of teens attended an after-school program at the Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre where they were paired with local runners in a 12-week, learn-to-run program. The group built their endurance, with twice-weekly practice runs, and then competed in the Unbreakable Bold and Cold 5K Run for Youth Mental Health on November 27, 2016. Shift was proud to assist the #TeamUnbreakable runners by sponsoring the admissions fees for a group of at-risk youth.
More than ever before, we know that exercise is vital to overall health and to good mental health. Research consistently shows that people who exercise regularly have fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and anger. They have lower rates of psychiatric conditions and report feeling like they have better social connections, another important factor in maintaining good emotional health.
Even small amounts of regular exercise offer big benefits for mental wellbeing. Exercise can restore normal mood when depressed or anxious and because exercise itself is a stressor on the body, regular ‘doses’ of it leave the body better able to cope when stressful challenges occur in daily life. Exercise also increases the brain’s production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to be strongly related to anxiety and depression.
Support #TeamUnbreakable and Cameron Helps in their efforts to promote mental and emotional wellbeing in youth – and get out and exercise!
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