Mental health charity, Mind, has launched the country’s first large scale programme to encourage those who are experiencing mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, to participate in physical activity.

Get Set to Go is supported by Sport England, with £1.5m of National Lottery funding and a further £514,000 from other sources.

The initiative will first focus on eight areas which have been identified as having either high rates of inactivity or high rates of people with mental health issues: Brent, Croydon, Dudley, Herefordshire, Rochdale and district, Lancashire, Middlesbrough and Tyneside.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: “Structured physical activity can play a key role in someone’s recovery from a mental health problem and in staying well long-term. However, mental ill health can create significant obstacles which prevent people from taking up sport in the first place.”

The programme will draw on the experience of those who have suffered from mental health issues. Training will be given to sports instructors to help them to better relate to those who have mental health issues and to help them overcome the barriers involved in taking part in sport. Instructors will be expected to offer coaching and motivation.

Senior media officer for Mind, Elana McIntyre, says: “We are currently working with coaches and people with experience of mental health problems to design the training so we can provide a course which professionals will find interesting and useful.”

Research has shown that outdoor exercise can help reduce depression and anxiety. One in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year and one in six have one today. Research by the King’s Fund and Centre for Mental Health has found that £13bn of NHS spend is on long-term conditions linked to poor mental health and wellbeing.