Physical activity for people using mental health services: A framework for action in Wales

Regular physical activity is strongly recommended to improve mental health, with evidence showing reduced symptoms across both, common and severe mental illness.

National guidance, including NICE recommendations, supports group-based exercise for mild-to-moderate depression, while public health campaigns emphasise the positive impact of even brief activity on mood and resilience.

This report reviews the evidence and identifies practical barriers. In Wales, community programmes, exercise referral schemes, and initiatives in secure settings show clear benefits, though limited funding, low motivation, and restricted access to qualified professionals can hinder engagement.

The Public Mental Health Implementation Centre (PMHIC) were commissioned to produce this report by the Dyfodol Programme, which is hosted in the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) and run in partnership with RCPsych Wales and the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC). It urges system leaders to embed person-centred, evidence-informed physical activity into mental health support across Wales, with key recommendations to:

develop and support community-led, co-designed approaches
involve fitness professionals in implementation
tailor physical activity for people with severe mental illness.