Today is World Mental Health day, and to help promote awareness of mental health, we are encouraging as many people as possible to reach out and to try out table tennis today!

Table tennis is proven to improve mental health, and the sport has helped many people, including Gordon, who shared his story about how the sport helped him with his mental health when he would visit his local Ping Pong Parlour.

Made as part of the Power of Ping series, Gordon shared his story on how table tennis at his local Ping Pong Parlour helped his mental health.

Why not get in touch with a friend, and find somewhere to play some table tennis together, where you can meet people of all ages and backgrounds and make new friends. There are clubs, parlours, and outdoor tables all over the country that accommodate everyone, regardless of ability, so why not give it a go today? To find your nearest table, click on the big red button at the top of this page.

As the graphic below shows, one in four of us will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in our life. Physical activity in general is shown to reduce stress, anxiety and the risk of depression, while table tennis, as a flexible sport suitable for everyone, is a great way enjoy that physical activity.

The Sport in Mind activity map is a good place to find physical activity sessions – including table tennis sessions – to help promote good mental health. Click here to search the map for a session near you.

To find out more about World Mental Health Day, click here to visit the Mental Health Foundation website.

For any other questions you have about mental health, please see the following useful links.