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As awareness surrounding mental health continues to grow, people are becoming more understanding of what it means to experience a mental health crisis. While millions of people experienced mental health issues prior to 2020, the on-going impact of COVID-19 has resulted in more people accessing mental health support.
While seeking help from doctors, therapists and trained counsellors is always a good idea, there are also lifestyle modifications that can help to minimise the symptoms of some mental health issues. For people with depression or anxiety, for example, there are self-care solutions that can aid recovery.
Perhaps surprisingly, skateboarding is one of the latest hobbies to shine a light on mental health. Research conducted by Flo Skatepark and Instinct Laboratory has shown that skateboarding can improve mental health in a number of ways, including:
- Increase Confidence
When you first start out, skateboarding isn’t easy. While the top professional skateboarders around the world may make it look simple, you’re likely to take a few tumbles before you master the art of the ollie or the frontside 180! However, the challenge of learning new tricks is why skateboarding can such an effective way of boosting your confidence levels. With practice and perseverance, you can acquire new skills, which naturally makes you feel more accomplished and confident.
- Reduce Stress
Although stress is a normal part of life, it can have negative effects. If we’re dealing with too much stress, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious and depressed. Furthermore, people can experience physical symptoms due to stress, such as raised blood pressure or panic attacks.
Skateboarding can be a great way to reduce your stress levels. Due to the physical activity skateboarding requires, it causes your body to release endorphins, which help you to feel more positive. Furthermore, physical activity can be a great way to combat the physical impact of stress and keep your body healthy.
- Avoid Loneliness
As many people have seen during lockdown, loneliness can have a major impact on your well-being. By taking up a new hobby, you can meet new people and widen your social circle. Skateboarding, in particular, is known as a friendly community, which is why so many people gravitate towards it.
Anyone can visit a local skate park and find people to talk to or learn from. In addition to this, there are plenty of skate schools which offer formal lessons or social events. While local lockdown restrictions may prevent these events from taking place right now, there is also a vibrant online skateboarding community that’s active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Using Sport to Boost Your Mental Health
Sport offers a multitude of benefits for both your physical and mental well-being. While any hobby can be a good way to combat mental health issues, choosing a physically active pastime, like skateboarding, can be a particularly effective way to reduce stress, boost confidence and overcome loneliness. With regular activity and skateboarding, you can reduce the risk of developing mental health issues and successfully minimise the symptoms you may be experiencing.
