A golf programme for people with severe and enduring mental health problems
| Pages | 26-39 |
| Published date | 01 December 2004 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200400026 |
| Date | 01 December 2004 |
| Author | David Carless,Kitrina Douglas |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
journal of mental health promotion •volume 3•issue 4 •december 2004 © Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Ltd
A golf programme for people with severe and
enduring mental health problems
ABSTRACT
This article reports an experimental golf programme initiated for people with severe and enduring mental health problems partly to promote
physical activity and partly as a socially inclusive activity. The programme was organised for a small, pilot group and evaluated using qualitative
case study data collected during the programme. The success of the programme was indicated by the high attendance rates of participants, their
voiced enthusiasm for the sessions and for the social interaction after the games, and the fact that many members of the first group continue to
play and new members have joined the group, even though sessions are no longer being organised and paid for.
David Carless
Kitrina Douglas
Visiting research fellows
Department of Exercise and Health Sciences
University of Bristol
Research
Asubstantial body of evidence nowexists in supportof
the positivepsychological effects of various forms of
physical activity (Biddle et al,2000; Department of
Health, 2004; Morgan, 1997). Much of the existing
literaturehas focused on people without diagnosed
mental health problems or people with mild to
moderate depression or anxiety. Only a small amount
of research has explored the potential of physical
activity for people with severeand enduring mental
health problems and, at present, the therapeutic
potential of physical activity for this client group is
unresolved. However, as Faulkner and Biddle (1999)
suggest in a review of the effects of exercise on
schizophrenia, a growing body of research evidence
suggests that physical activity can be effectivein
helping people with severe mental health problems
cope with the difficulties their illness presents as well as
helping to improvequality of life.
The distinction that emerges here, between treating
amental illness and improving mental health, is an
important one. Tudor (1996) has argued that mental
health and mental illness should be seen as two separate
continua (Figure1). This distinction allows the
possibility of attaining positive mental health despite
having a diagnosis of mental illness. On this basis, the
promotion of mental health to individuals with a
mental illness can be justified, regardless of whether or
not their diagnosis improves.
Moving the focus of service provision for people
with mental health problems away from symptom
removal towards promoting positive mental health is
gaining growing support in both the clinical literature
and within the user/survivor movement (Chadwick,
1997a; Repper & Perkins, 2003). A predominant
theme in user-led research is the importance of social
networks, friendship, acceptance and opportunities to
participate in and enjoy the same range of everyday
activities as everyone else (Faulkner 2002, 1997;
Mental Health Foundation, 2000; Wallcraft, 1998).
T
wo important questions arise from this view. First,
what kinds of service provision might help promote
positive mental health and, second, how might we
assess the success of a programme or intervention on
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FIGURE 1
Mental health and mental illness
(Tudor, 1996)
Maximal mental Minimal mental
disorder/illness disorder/illness
Minimal Optimum mental
mental health health
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