ABSTRACT

Mental illnesses encompass a broad spectrum of disorders, each presenting unique challenges and psychosocial impacts that can affect individuals’ daily lives and overall well-being to varying degrees. While treatments are available, a large treatment gap exists between those requiring mental health care and those who access mental health care. Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are often first-line treatments; however, when accessible, barriers to adherence exist, including medication side effects and long appointment waitlists. International guidelines increasingly recommend physical activity due to significant mental and physical health benefits for people experiencing mental illness. These recommendations are founded on well-established evidence supporting the use of physical activity interventions in both the prevention and treatment of several mental illnesses including depressive disorders, anxiety and stress-related disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and bipolar disorders. Clinical exercise professionals are well placed to deliver physical activity interventions to people living with mental illnesses. To do so effectively, they must remain informed about the recent research and understand the unique considerations to working in mental health settings. In this brief review, we aim at summarizing high-level evidence regarding physical activity and mental health prevention and treatment from meta-analyses, meta-reviews, systematic reviews, umbrella reviews, expert guidelines, and clinical treatment guidelines. We also recommend strategies for clinical exercise professionals to increase intervention engagement and discuss the evidence for preventing physical comorbidities in people with mental illness.