Improving health and physical activity levels
Becoming more active is important for improving health and easing pain
Healthy weight, giving up smoking, alcohol
Please visit our Health and Wellbeing web page for information about healthy eating, support for losing weight, giving up smoking and alcohol
How to increase physical activity levels
There are national schemes as well as local schemes in Gloucestershire to help you become more active
National Guidelines
Physical activity guidelines for adults
Online resources
- NHS Live Well – information about activity guidelines, free gym passes, green gyms, park gyms, cycle schemes
- NHS Exercise videos –10 minute work outs designed to complete at home.
Endorsed by the NHS
We recommend the following information for increasing physical activity levels:
- Active 10 – designed to encourage individuals to do brisk walking for a minimum of 10 minute periods
- Couch to 5k – designed to get people more active by gradually building up a walking to running programme
Local schemes for increasing physical activity in Gloucestershire
A full list of services to help increase physical activity in Gloucestershire can be found at the Your Circle website.
Mental Health
Online resources
Please visit the NHS Moodzone website for information about how to cope with common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression
Free online courses covering low mood, stress and resiliency can be accessed at the Living Life To The Full website. Work out why you feel as you do, how to tackle problems, build confidence, get going again, feel happier, stay calm, tackle upsetting thinking and more.
Talking Therapy
If you would like to speak to somebody about symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, you can also refer yourself to the the Let's Talk service. The Lets Talk service primarily offers cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is a talking therapy that has been proven to be effective in managing anxiety and depression. You can access the service if you are aged 18 and over, and registered with a GP in Gloucestershire or Herefordshire.
Apps
A full list of recommended apps for mental health can be found on the NHS website and we also recommend the following apps for relaxation and meditation:
- Calm: Meditation, relaxation and music traks. Some free content as well as a paid-for service
- Headspace: Guided meditation to live mindfully. Some free content as well as a paid-for service
Local resources in Gloucestershire
A full list of services to help with Mental Health in Gloucestershire can be found at the Your Circle website. Some examples of local mental health services include:
- Artlift: Artlift provides art courses for people experiencing mental ill health or long term physical conditions which impact negatively on mental health.
- Men in Sheds: Workshops in the Cheltenham and Gloucester for older men to meet regularly and bring a range of skills and ideas to many activities including carpentry , community projects, recycling things, repairing and painting furniture etc.
- Kingfisher Treasure Seeker - Social enterprise in Gloucester to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people with learning disabilities, mental health challenges and complex needs such as recovery from alcohol and drug use