October is Mental Illness Month in South Africa and new and interesting research has just surfaced around one of the most common forms of mental illness – depression.
In an interview with BusinessTech, Dr Sebolelo Seape, Chairperson of the Psychiatry Management Group, revealed that almost 4,5 million South Africans suffer from depression. To add some context to this figure, that's about 9,7% of the South African population.
With this in mind, a new study said to be the largest of its kind has made a larger-than-life claim. According to the study, depression can be prevented with just one hour of exercise a week.
Published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, the study analysed over 30 000 adults and found that those that did not exercise were 44% more likely to suffer with depression compared to those who exercised as little as one to two hours a week.
The lead author, Professor Samuel Harvey, says that while they have known for quite some time that there was quite a significant link between exercise and depression, this is the first time that they have been able to quantify just how much exercise makes a significant impact.
"We've known for some time that exercise has a role to play in treating symptoms of depression, but this is the first time we have been able to quantify the preventative potential of physical activity in terms of reducing future levels of depression," said Harvey.
"These findings are exciting, because they show that even relatively small amounts of exercise, from one hour per week, can deliver significant protection against depression."
