Government and fitness industry should work together to benefit young people’s mental health.
A poll of more than 617 South Australian high school students reveals two-thirds of them believe their mental health would benefit from free access to gyms while they are in high school, particularly for those who are living with mental health issues.
The poll also revealed that a third of students who responded want more access to swimming pools, public sports fields and courts, fitness classes, school sports, club sports and recreation centres, and more time to participate in fitness activities overall.
Students described a range of barriers they face to participating in more sport and fitness activities while in high school. These barriers included cost, opening times, availability of sessions, and transport. They also reported gender barriers that included a lack of female teams, poor quality community courts and fields, and age-related restrictions at some facilities and recreation centres.
Members of the SA SRC’s Fitness for Free campaign are highlighting that much more needs to be done to support young people with mental health challenges, and that providing free access to gyms and other fitness facilities for those who need it is a positive step that government and the fitness industry can take to provide practical support for high school students.
Read the full Media Release here.
Read the full position brief here.
