Mental health and wellbeing organisation Sport in Mind have recently launched a Badminton and Table Tennis for Mental Wellbeing session in Milton Keynes for people experiencing mental health problems.

The session is run at the Woughton Leisure Centre, and has been running for a over month now.

The group participating in the fun, causal drop-in session has grown week on week, and is proving a real benefit for the local community.

Sport in Mind has been running sessions in Berkshire for 11 years, and over the years they have expanded across counties in the South East offering a wide variety of sessions.

The organisation offers a wide range of sports and physical activities to suit everyone – regardless of age, gender, mobility, ethnicity, sexual orientation or ability – and the sessions are open to anyone over 17 experiencing mental health problems, as well as carers to offer extra support.

The aims of the sessions are most importantly to have fun, but also to aid recovery, promote mental wellbeing, improve physical health, combat social isolation and empower people to move their lives forward in a positive direction.

Table tennis is one of our most popular sessions in the other counties we operate in. As Milton Keynes is a new area for us we thought it would be the best session to start with, so participants could get a taste of what Sport in Mind has to offer. Table tennis appeals to all age groups and can be tailored depending on mobility and ability of participants, allowing it to be a more inclusive and enjoyable session.

Beth Marriott, Sport In Mind Development Officer

Taking part in sport or physical activity regularly really does have a positive impact on both mental and physical health. Some of the many benefits include:

1. Helps us to cope with the stresses of daily life more effectively
2. Improves our physical health
3. Helps us maintain a healthy weight
4. Builds confidence and self-esteem
5. Meet new people and make friends
6. Improves concentration and sleeping patterns
7. Give you a natural energy boost
8. Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety
9. Releases chemicals in your brain that makes you feel happy

The sessions have all these benefits, but the most important thing is that they are fun and lots of laughs are throughout the session.

Here’s a few reasons why people have chosen to participate in Sport in Mind’s table tennis sessions:

I would never have entered a sports centre without Sport in Mind.

It’s a break from my thoughts.

It’s the highlight of my week.

Download the Sport in Mind Badminton and Table Tennis for Mental Wellbeing flyer for more information or visit https://www.sportinmind.org/ to find out more about the organisation.