How Glasgow’s new walk-in mental health hub helps us to get moving

We feel better when we move. Movement boosts our confidence, releases feel-good endorphins and gives us opportunities to connect with other people. For so many of us, physical activity is central to our mental health and wellbeing. But taking those first steps can be a lot easier said than done. Many of us experience barriers to being active, from lack of time, confidence or facilities to social anxiety, fear of judgment or the impact of a long-term condition.

For nearly two decades, we have been promoting the influence and impact moving more can have on our physical, mental and social health. So we create spaces for anyone and everyone to come along: just as you are. This is woven into the fabric of the boldest and biggest project we've embarked on to date: The Nook.

At a time when Scotland's mental health is in crisis, The Nook is our response to long waiting lists, complicated referral routes and rejection from an overburdened mental health system. It is a walk-in mental health hub for anyone to visit for support, resources or a friendly chat, seven days a week.

Beyond that, The Nook is a place of community connection, so we have a packed schedule of free events and activities for people to come along and join. Walk and Talks are a weekly staple of this calendar: a gentle 3-4km stroll followed by a hot drink at The Nook every Thursday. Sometimes it's easier to open up when we're alongside other people, rather than opposite them, and conversations flow more easily when we are out and about.

Not all things that get us moving are explicitly linked to exercise. Our creative sessions, such as art workshops, help us connect with our bodies in a different way. Even if that's just getting stuck in to make a mess!

And because building a routine can be beneficial for many of us, our Nook team actively promote the benefits of physical activity for mental health wellbeing and link visitors in with opportunities to be active in their communities.

Glasgow is the first of five planned Nooks, with Aberdeen and Edinburgh to launch next year. As The Nook grows, we are eager to develop more activities that focus on movement and are looking to partner with organisations who can support us to do this. Because we never want to stand still.

Robert Nesbitt is Head of Physical Activity and Sport at SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health). The Nook in Glasgow is open seven days a week. Anyone can walk in between 10am and 5pm from Monday to Friday, and between 10am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

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