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Physical activity can lead to positive mental health outcomes

Health ministry leaders should more deeply ask why are people anxious, dysfunctional, and depressed, rather than blame brains.

To the Editor,

People not being allowed to be themselves (not being carefully supported where their strengths are, not being allowed to freely express themselves in the abilities that would be most positive for them) is a primary cause of ills, rather than untreated mental illness.

Health ministry leaders should more deeply ask why are people anxious, dysfunctional, and depressed, rather than simply put blame on their brains. Although it might be convenient to misdiagnose and put blame on something so intricate as the human brain, this approach is assuming, expedient, inconsiderate and a cause of great harms.

How about administering physical exercise, rather than numerous drugs? Rather than put lots of money into a pharmaceutical agenda, physical activity, which supports friendships, could help enable persons who are neglected to live to their greater potential. Everybody needs some kind of exercise.

The human brain and human body should not be insulted. Impoverished people should not be stripped from their mental dignity and active ability because of control-driven profiteering.

Malcolm Raevia e-mail