From the environment to exercise: influencing mental health and wellbeing

The causes of mental health problems are complex and shaped by a web of social, political, and environmental factors. Drawing on new research from the UK and Sweden, Jen will explore how neighbourhood characteristics, housing affordability, immigration policy change, and more affect mental health problems. This talk will highlight how historically marginalised and excluded groups are particularly impacted by adverse environmental conditions, with important insights for mental health equity.

Flaminia and her team have been researching the effects of physical activity on cognitive function and brain activity in both children and adults. While we may all agree that physical activity is good for us, we still don’t quite understand what intensity of activity we should be doing and which areas of cognition benefit the most. This talk will touch on how we can best use physical activity to optimise our mental wellbeing and brain health throughout the lifespan of a human being, and how individual differences (such as fitness and personality) can affect these responses.