Close
Search
Menu Menu
[gtranslate]

British doctors can now suggest surfing as a mental health remedy

Credit: Unsplash
By
London, UK
0 comments
0 comments

Young people experiencing depression and anxiety will be prescribed surfing, roller skating, and dancing before being offered medication by doctors.

Let’s face it, feelings of being stressed, burnt out, and sad are bound to pop up in our hyper-aware and overloaded era of modern life.

Under these circumstances, the most tempting activity is to lie in bed and shut off with a ten-part Netflix series. But the truth is, over time, this tends to only exacerbate negative feelings.

More than half of young people say they have experienced depression and anxiety at some point, and clinics are becoming warier about handing out prescription pills to the masses.

Instead, doctors in 10 regions of the UK have been authorised to participate in a trial run of prescribing regular physical activity like surfing, rollerblading, and dancing to people between the ages of 11-18.

Dragging yourself out of a slump and performing physical exercise (though difficult when feeling down) can work wonders. Even a 20-minute stroll has been proven to activate the imaginative parts of the brain, help calm our nerves, and ultimately shift our perspective.

The hope is that starting a new hobby, achieving personal milestones, and engaging in some strenuous activity will improve the overall health and well-being of younger generations.

I’m not going to go boomer-style and blame phones for every one of our problems, but the fact that we spend more time looking at screens than the world around us is clearly taking its toll.

Most children own a mobile phone by the age of 7, and surveys suggest that as young people reach their teens, at least 75 percent of them will be worried about being ‘addicted’ to these devices.

Of course, extended screen time can be at its most detrimental when it’s spent on social media sites. These places, where users typically only share the best moments of life, can lead to vicious cycles of social comparison and feelings of inadequacy.

Resisting the pull of these digital slot machines for content and replacing them with real-world activity is proven to improve general feelings of happiness. All it takes is one or two hours a day.

Amongst others benefits, exercise can improve sleep, foster stronger self-esteem, and presents opportunities to bond with others in class or sports settings.

Of course, prescribing physical activity to young people struggling with their mental health will be the first line of advice for now. Their progress will be monitored by the University College of London, which will track the results.

Let’s hope the impact is positive enough to become a long-lasting practice.

Senior Writer & Media Coordinator London, UK

I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty.  Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

Popular

Keep up with thred by signing up to our planet-positive newsletter!

More from thred.

Cosmetic vagina surgeries are hugely popular among Gen Z
Credit: Pexels
Fashion + Beauty

Cosmetic vagina surgeries are hugely popular among Gen Z

‘Designer vagina’ surgery is one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures among young people worldwide. Recent research has uncovered that this is due to a lack of education and diverse representation. It’s never been easier to look at a vagina. In the digital age – unless parental controls are active – a quick dig through the less-regulated social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit will bombard users with a torrent of...

By London, UK
Opinion – we aren’t worried enough about our attention spans
Credit: Unsplash
Wellness

Opinion – we aren’t worried enough about our attention spans

Though people are discussing it openly online and trends have emerged to address it, our ability to concentrate is deteriorating by the day. Why does nobody seem that concerned? Two things I’ve noticed recently – both while commuting to work. For one, that all I ever seem to see these days is people looking down, staring blankly at the screen in their hands. I’m by no means exempt from this, I...

By London, UK
Gen Z’s latest accessory? Ear plugs
Credit: Stefano Giovannini
Fashion + Beauty

Gen Z’s latest accessory? Ear plugs

The unlikely trend has made ear safety stylish. What’s the harm?  The soundtrack of your teens and twenties usually involves crowded festivals, loud nightclubs, and headphones dialled up to high-volume. But Gen Z are starting to reject this cacophony with help from an unlikely accessory: the earplug. Studies have shown that for many young people, noise exposure poses a serious risk to the health of the ears and can even lead...

By Brighton, UK
Modern medicine continues to neglect women’s health
Credit: Thred
Wellness

Modern medicine continues to neglect women’s health

Women are disproportionately suffering from a lack of medical attention, facing difficulties seeking treatment for painful symptoms and having their needs misunderstood. In a supposedly developed world, we are consistently letting women down by failing to close the gender health gap. From Queen Elizabeth I’s white face makeup – which she used to cover smallpox scarring – to well-known modern-day lipstick brands including Mac, L’Oreal, and Maybelline,...

By Manchester, England
Accessibility