Run Talk Run has teamed up WONCA & RCGP to provide the attendees of the conference a lovely morning 3km walk or a 5km run by the Excel centre in London, on Thursday 30th June at 7:15am.

The run and walk will be led by Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi (@irondoctorhz on Instagram, @zubaidihussain on Twitter RCGP Lifestyle & Physical Activity Champion, Triathlete & Running coach) and a bunch of volunteers. For those budding athletes we will have UK athletic coaches on hand to give advice and tips, and as well representatives from Run Talk Run to let you know about how you can link your surgery to a local event using the active practice Charter!

Aim:

Increase accessibility to physical activity and mental health support to those identified with greatest need.

Why:

Those with mental illness are significantly less likely to meet the physical activity guidelines, putting them at higher risk of physical health conditions, worsening mental health and increasing socioeconomic burden.

How:

Initially we launched a virtual fitness club to highlight and promote physical activity.

Ambitions grew and we wanted to directly help overcome the barriers faced getting active in specific patient groups to tackle the resulting health inequalities.

One such group was those with mental health difficulties. To aid us we approached Run Talk Run, an organisation dedicated to providing peer support through weekly runs and walks.

What we did:

Run Talk Run provided guidance, support and liability cover. The groups are led at variety of paces because one size does not fit all! It has been accessed by >500 with 98 regular members/
Located at their GP vs fitness centre.
Honest & open chats encouraged.
Mental health first adders.
Targeted promotion via SMS using population searches.
Direct GP referrals.
Run by staff and patients.
Signposting to mental health services.

The Benefits:

Increased:

Community connections
Mental wellbeing
Patient satisfaction
Skills and experience for HCPs
>84% wellbeing score @ 12 weeks

Reduced:

Medication burden
Physical health burden
Social isolation
< 54% feeling low mood @ 12 weeks

What next?

Completion of research assessing measurable impact groups are having on patients health.

Lifestyle clinic: group consultations covering nutrition, physical activity and mental health delivered by GPs, nurses, social prescribers and dieticians.

Creation of a beginner strength and conditioning based activity.

Join us for the conference run and walk!

Thursday 30th June 07:15 outside the excel west entrance by the waterfront.

Run and walk groups of ALL abilities.

Representatives from RCGP Lifestyle and run talk run to help educate and inspire.

WONCA & RCGP RUN - Tackling Health Inequalities