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This module will examine the relationship between exercise, sport and mental health for people with or without mental health problems. In terms of exercise, it will provide a critical awareness of the increasing prevalence that exercise has within research, policy and practice for mental health (treatment, management and promotion). In the context of sport, it will provide a critical awareness of the issues affecting participants in sport including both the positive and negative affects it can have on athlete?s mental health, and wellbeing.

The indicative content of this module will include: current perspectives of mental health, wellbeing and clinical conditions in exercise and sport; current mental health issues prevalent in society such as depression, anxiety and more severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; the contexts of both exercise and sport and their role and function (or dysfunction) in the treatment, maintenance and promotion of mental health and wellbeing; current contemporary evidence based practice and research in the exercise, sport and mental health area; the mechanisms responsible for the relationship between positive and negative mental health in exercise and sport.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. Interpret critically the meaning of the term „mental health? and its application in both exercise and health, and sporting contexts;
2. Demonstrate a critical awareness, understanding and implications of, the various mental health problems that are prevalent in society;
3. Revise and evaluate critically the relationship between physical activity and mental health and the mechanisms proposed for their association;
4. Evaluate critically the implementation of physical activity interventions for the treatment of mental health within health care in relation to current research, policy and practice in exercise and sport contexts;
5. Adopt a contemporary approach to mental health;
6. Appraise critically current policies and strategies employed by relevant agencies to address mental health issues in exercise and sport.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.