Mental Health

Are you looking to support your own mental wellbeing via physical activity?

Use our Interactive Map to find local activities

We recognise the difficulties in finding physical activities to support one’s mental health. Whether you yourself are looking to join an activity, or if you are a professional needing guidance to know where to signpost someone, our interactive map and locally mapped activities will be a first point of call for you. You'll find a host of activities specific to certain mental health conditions as well as classes which are specifically welcoming to those struggling with their mental health.

The Moving More Activity Finder

If you're looking to improve your physical and mental health activity, why not visit our Moving More Activity Finder where you'll find thousands of opportunities available in Hertfordshire?

Moving More allows you to filter for your needs - so if it's activities to support your mental health that you are after, please see the 'Accessibility' tab and select 'Mental Health Needs'. If joining a local activity session doesn't suit you, there are all sorts of ways you can be active without leaving your home. Whether you are looking for a home workout, everyday activities, or soemthing you ca do with the family, there are plenty of ways to stay active at home. 

Looking after your own Mental Health Resources

If you're looking for further signposting and resources nationally and locally to support your own mental health, take a look at our page of resources.

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Are you looking to support someone else with their mental health through the use of physical activities?

Children and Young People's Mental Wellbeing Resources

If you are working with children and young people, take a look at the resources collated to support their mental wellbeing.

Mental Health Monthly Newsletter

If you're unsure where to start and want to learn more about mental health offers, support, and training, you can sign up to our Herts Sport & Physical Activity Mental Health monthly newsletter.

Recieve the latest updates straight to your inbox. We regularly highlight upcoming webinars, trianing offers, conference/events, and showcase some key case studies from across Hertfordshire and the East region. 

Children & Young People Mental Health & Physical Activity Community of Practice

Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership will be launching a Community of Practice in September 2025 to spark conversation and practical steps in supporting young people's resilience and using physical activity as a vehicle for this. If you're interested in finding out more and joining the community, please contact z.mckeating@herts.ac.uk

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The Power of Movement in Promoting Young People's Mental Resilience

In June 2025, Herts Sport & Physical Activity collaborated on the first learn, share, collaborate event between the East of England’s network of Active Partnerships which took a dive into how community-based activities can nurture emotional strength and support primary-aged children in developing the resilience needed to thrive in today’s complex world. We were joined by key stakeholders from the children and young people (CYP), mental health and physical activity sector who had the opportunity to gain enhanced understanding of how physical activity supports children's mental health and resilience.

The event began with an overview of the national perspective of how movement supports mental resilience from the likes of Sport England and the Active Partnership National Organisation. We then heard real-world examples of successful programmes and local initiatives already making a difference across the East of England. Case studies included Stormbreak (on equipping young children with sustainable, transferable skills and coping strateges to thrive during the complex demands of growth into adult life) and Mind Me Mindfulness (on strategies for supporting anxious young people). 

The event enabled collaborative discussions designed to solve practical challenges and align future efforts with local needs. We then held discussions to shape the next steps in countywide strategies for supporting young people's mental resilience. 

You can find a recording of this event at the bottom of the page to catch up on.

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East of England Mental Health in Sport & Physical Activity Conference 2024

In March 2024, Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) delivered the second year of the East of England Mental Health in Sport & Physical Activity Conference. The event was a great opportunity to promote Mind's Mental Health and Physical Activity Toolkit, aiming to increase the knowledge and skills of physical activity providers (and other organisations) when it comes to mental health. The toolkit is made up of ten guides to help offer an inclusive environment for those experiencing mental health problems. Together, Mind and HSP opted to focus on three key areas of the toolkit:

• Involving people with lived experience of mental health problems in the design and delivery of your work.
• Making physical activities inclusive to people experiencing mental health problems.
• Engaging people in physical activity to support their mental health.

We were joined by the following fantastic guest speakers who demonstrated how they had used the toolkit within their own organisations:

• Active Essex Foundation - Inclusive design across their youth delivery.
• Watford FC Community Sport & Education Turst - Showcasing their Empower project for young people.
• Healthwatch Essex - Awareness of men's mental health via their 'Fella's Forum'.
• Emma shaw at Muscle Mind Wellness CIC - Lived Experience in the design/delivery of her own CIC.
• Rethink Mental Illness - Inclusive access to physical activity and overcoming barriers.

You can find a series of webinars from the conference to watch back: webinar 1 focusing on Mind's toolkit, webinar 2 including case studies from across the region, and webinar 3 with Rethink Mental Illness.

"It was fantastic to be involved in such a well organised conference, Tom & Zoe were very supportive pre, during, and post-event. It was so important to hear from local organisations that are supporting people with mental health problems through physical activity, and lots of learning to take away. 101 people engaged throughout, which accentuates the success of the event". - Karla Burton, Mind.