Taking part in daily activities – such as gardening – can help protect mental health, according to a Government think tank.

Undertaking activities such as gardening, playing a musical instrument or learning new skills could help to protect individuals’ mental health, a Government think tank has advised.

According to the report by Foresight, ‘five-a-day’ activities can be just as beneficial to mental health as eating five fruit and vegetables a day is to physical health.

The report is based on the findings of a two-year study by 400 international experts who work in a variety of specialisms varying from neuroscience to economics.

It calls for each area of society – from Government and companies through to individuals – to help people realise their mental potential at every stage of their lives. This will boost both mental capital and wellbeing and “could reap very high economic and social benefits in the future,” it said.

The study named five categories of things believed to make a profound difference to people’s wellbeing. These include: connecting with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours; being active with sports and hobbies; being curious about the world around you; learning something new; and giving to others you meet around you.

It also calls for early intervention for developing and maintaining mental capital and mental wellbeing – from spotting and treating learning difficulties in children and young people through to developing biomarkers [indications of a change in state] to diagnose dementia earlier in older people.

Professor John Beddington, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of the Foresight Programme, said: “There is good work being done but progress can be made and taxpayers money saved if government departments work together more effectively to tackle these issues.

“Investing to identify and tackle learning difficulties early on and improving the take up of education and learning will result in people getting better jobs. The report has shown that if an individual is fulfilled in their work this positively affects wellbeing, this in turn will see reduced expenditure on the treatment of mental health problems.”
 
According to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), mental-ill-health costs up to £77 billion a year in England alone. Treating dementia costs the UK £17bn a year – the figure is set to rise to £50bn a year within 30 years.

By Natasha Piscitelli