Bucks Talking Therapies and Sport England's mental healthcare and physical wellbeing programme will be shared nationwide after a successful first trial.

Mental health treatment combining physical exercise and talking therapy devised in Buckinghamshire is to be tested nationwide by the NHS and Sport England.

People being treated for anxiety and depression by NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies were invited to trial the new approach incorporating physical activity alongside talking therapy.

They found that by taking part in physical exercise, tailored to their own interests, physical capabilities and lifestyle, they were able to ease their symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Deputy clinical lead for NHS Talking Therapies Buckinghamshire, Josef Landsburg, said: “Our physical and mental health are so closely intertwined and there is a strong correlation between levels of physical activity and improved mental health. 

"When people are able to increase their physical activity during their treatment for common mental health problems, it not only brings about symptom relief but also has numerous other health benefits, thus creating a virtuous cycle. We found this was also true for people living with a long-term physical health condition, when activity was tailored around their physical health.”

NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies collaborated with Sport England, social enterprise Leap which works to improve people’s lives through physical activity and sport, and NHS Camden & Islington Talking Therapies during the two-year trial.

Four distinct interventions were developed and offered to patients alongside evidence-based psychological treatments.

On of these was the “Move More; Feel Better” app – which patients could download and use to guide them through practical steps of increasing their physical activity.

Other interventions included a three-session psychoeducational workshop aimed at helping people with long-term conditions, a 10-session cognitive behavioural therapy group for depression, which included a protected 30-minute space for physical activity, and a weekly walk with an alpaca in the Buckinghamshire countryside for six weeks with local charity, Animal Antiks.

The trial results revealed hen people included physical activity as part of their psychological therapy with NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapy, it had a positive impact on their symptoms, helping to ease their feelings of depression and anxiety.

After taking part in physical activity as part of their talking therapy, most people said they had become more physically active.

A toolkit for all NHS Talking Therapies services has now been developed and published alongside the full report on the Sport England website.