Making mental and physical health a pandemic priority

The work gyms and fitness classes do is CRUCIAL to supporting the NHS and people’s health – they need to be classed as essential businesses to be able to stay open.

Please sign the petition below, and if you feel passionately that you need your gym/yoga/CrossFit/fitness class for your own wellbeing – now is the time to write to your MP and share your view.

My own letter to my MP

Doncaster

Dear Nick,

I have written to you in the previous weeks, and still remain keen to arrange a meeting at a time to suit.

I am a regular gym goer, and I am a shareholder in

. We are a small gym, in which our members rely on us for physical and mental wellbeing. The endorphins released post workout ensure that we remain strong against mental and physical illness.

We were delighted last week when the decision was reversed to close fitness classes in South Yorkshire; however fearful again this week when potential of Tier 4 is being banded around by the press and the implications of this on mental health.

These words were gratefully received last week.

“I recognise the huge physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits that gyms and gym classes provide. That’s why I have successfully pushed government to reconsider the decision on gym classes – in line with Tier 3 restrictions elsewhere.”

Dan Jarvis (Mayor of South Yorkshire)

As well as being a regular gym goer, I also suffer from anxiety. I have been at points where this is controlled via medication, but currently, since the reopening of gyms post lockdown I have managed to control my own anxiety through regular training sessions. During lockdown, I cannot even begin to tell you how challenging trying to manage anxiety in isolation was. Training solo isn’t for me – I lack the motivation. Group fitness is my tablet, and my form of wellbeing.

I am very much not alone.

This country has been through so much in the last year. The thoughts of a stricter lockdown and reducing peoples access to fitness can only result in more pronounced mental and physical health challenges.

Gyms and exercise classes also help fight obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and a whole spectrum of mental and physical health challenges.

I implore you to continue to promote fitness and mental well being in government by moving gyms and fitness classes to the list of essential businesses.

I would like to draw your attention to the facts and evidence that has lead us to this decision and what the Government should be looking at:

UKActive published this study – https://www.ukactive.com/…/fitness-and-leisure-sector…/

. 22,000,000 (22 million) gym visits resulted in a mere 78 Covid cases

Uk gyms showing just 0.35 cases per 100,000 visits

Then we have the latest (unpublished study) since the increase in positive tests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-54464470

Gyms are still only showing 1.7% percent of cases, in comparison to restaurants which have a rate of 9.6% cases and are allowed to be open under tier 3 restrictions. This rate is also exceptionally low.

Mental health – the gym helps so many people with their mental health daily.

Male suicide is now at an all time high – https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3431

Data published by the Office for National Statistics on 1 September showed that in 2019 the suicide rate among men and boys was 16.9 deaths per 100 000, the highest since 2000 and slightly above the 2018 rate of 16.2 per 100 000. The suicide rate among women and girls was 5.3 deaths per 100 000 in 2019, up from 5.0 per 100 000 in 2018 and the highest since 2004.

Overall, 5691 suicides (4303 in men and boys) were registered in England and Wales in 2019, giving an age standardised rate of 11 deaths per 100 000 people. A total of 5420 were registered in 2018 (10.5 per 100 000).

Further supported by this

https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/113/10/707/5857612 which discusses suicide, mental health and COVID.

Please recognise that our mental and physical health must be protected during pandemic times and keep our fitness facilities in the UK open at all times.

Thank you