This week (May 9-15) marks Mental Health Awareness Week and brings an opportune time to highlight the mental health benefits which playing badminton can bring.
So far in 2022, campaigns such as the Racketpack Festival, No Strings Badminton and the Return to Play initiative have seen players past and present pick up a racket to either begin or continue their journeys in a sport which can help build confidence and provide a valuable social outlet.
Previous research conducted by the Mental Health Foundation shows that two-and-a-half hours of brisk exercise every week can cut the chances of depression by a third and time on the badminton court can prove an enjoyable way of cutting into that total.
The sport can help reduce stress and anxiety by taking your mind off everyday life while concentration levels will naturally improve through the combination of focus and agility required during a match.
Playing badminton engages your brain in a positive way by having to think about what you’re doing – whether it’s deciding where to serve, reacting quickly to a smash, or where to stand on court.
Time on court also releases endorphins, the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, which come particularly to the fore after winning a long rally or hard-fought match!
In addition, people who play the game for an hour daily are more attentive, adjusted and also have more active cardiovascular and neuro-humoral responses to mental stress.
So if you’d like a fun and social way to exercise and improve mental wellbeing, click on these links to find out how you can get involved.
