If you need mental health crisis support, please contact your local mental health services, your GP, or telephone 111 or the emergency services.

People exercising at a park

Lifestyle and Recovery Series: Exercise

Current Status

Not Enrolled

Price

Free

Get Started

This course is part of the Lifestyle and Recovery series. It will give you a basic understanding of the types of exercise that exist. It will also explore the ways in which exercise or increased activity can help you on your recovery journey.

This course has six sections. The course will take approximately sixty to ninety minutes to complete. However, this timing will depend on how fast you read and how long you spend on the reflective questions. You do not need to complete the whole course in one go. If you leave and come back to the course, it will remember where you got up to.

Important:
Please note

If you would like to get a certificate for this course, you must mark each page complete. You can do this by pressing the ‘mark complete’ button at the bottom of each page.

About the course

This course is for education and information only. It does not provide therapy, medical advice or professional support. If you need crisis support, please contact local mental health services, your GP or telephone 111 or the emergency services.

Course updated: March 2025

Resources

Activity Alliance

Activity Alliance (opens in a new tab) are a charity that supports and promotes sport for people with disabilities.

Couch to 5K

Couch to 5k (opens in a new tab) are an NHS resource designed to get you running approximately 5km by the end of the programme. You can download week by week podcasts and there are additional programmes for going beyond 5km!

Mental health foundation

Mental health foundation (opens in a new tab) produced the ‘Up and Running’ report in 2005 which focused on exercise as a way to treat depression.

One you 

One You NHS (opens in a new tab) is Public Health England's most recent campaign to encourage people to move more, including Active10. Check out the For your Body and For your Mind sections.

Paths for all

Paths for all (opens in a new tab) are a Scottish charity, their aims is for a happier, healthier, greener and more active Scotland. Their health walk groups have been established to create a supportive environment for you to start to enjoy the many benefits of being physically active.

Ramblers for all

Ramblers (opens in a new tab) are a charity that runs hundreds of walks throughout Britain every week. Contact them to find out more about where to walk in your area, how to locate your nearest walking group and additional information about how to include children, walk in urban areas and advice for people with disabilities. 

Run together

Run together (opens in a new tab) was created by England Athletics to provide fun, friendly and inclusive running opportunities for all. Led by qualified volunteers lots of the groups run couch 2 5k group programmes.

Sustrans 

Sustrans (opens in a new tab) charity is making it easier for people to walk and cycle. Their biggest project is the National Cycle Network which spans the length of the UK. 

Wheels for all

 Wheels for all (opens in a new tab) are a national programme that encourages adults and children to engage in quality cycling activity. 

Course Content

Understanding Exercise
The Effects of Exercise on Wellbeing and Recovery
Barriers to Exercise
Lifestyle Swaps
Exploring Different Types of Exercise
Finish the ‘Lifestyle and Recovery Series: Exercise’ course