A PSYCHIATRIST from Leamington is urging people to get active and talk about mental health.
Dr Shahnaz Hassan, a psychiatrist at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Clarendon Lodge Medical Practice has launched the running club with a difference.
Run Talk Run was founded in London in 2017 and Shahnaz first heard of this when scrolling through Instagram and she saw an advert.
It is a mental health support community first and a running group second which will be held by Shahnaz and several colleagues.
She said: “I thought this would be a great way to encourage our patients, and the community to get active, as well as break down barriers to talking about mental health.
“It can be daunting to get active especially if you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, and this is a great way for people to benefit both their physical and mental health in a supportive environment. It’s also a good way to help people get back on their feet, especially as social restrictions due to coronavirus have meant reduced activity levels for many people. It also provides an alternative to those who may not be comfortable going back to the gyms just yet.’’
The weekly 5km run starts from Clarendon Lodge Medical Practice in Leamington every Tuesday at 6.30pm.
Visit www.clmp.org.uk/Patient-Participation/Run-Talk-Run for more information.
