According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in any given year, almost 10 percent of the population, or about 20.9 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness. The economic cost for the disorder is high, but the cost in human suffering can’t be estimated. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those with the disorder but also to family, friends and co-workers.
Most people with a depressive illness don’t seek treatment although the great majority can be helped through medications and/or psychological assistance such as cognitive/behavioral therapy.
But exercise can help as well. One of the best sources for scientific literature on how exercise can positively impacts one’s mental health is called “The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health” by Dr. Daniel M. Landers, PhD in Exercise Science and Physical Education, Arizona State University, originally published in the Research Digest as Series 2, Number 12, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Here is Dr. Landers’ key conclusion from his review of the massive scientific literature on the topic of exercise and mental health:
“There is now ample evidence that a definite relationship exists between exercise and improved mental health. This is particularly evident in the case of a reduction of anxiety and depression.”
