Stride is a free 12-week exercise program for UWA students experiencing mental health difficulties
In any given year, as many as one in four young Australians aged 16 to 24 experience a mental health problem. High numbers of tertiary-level students experiencing mental health difficulties that pose a range of academic and social challenges, means more is needed from universities to support their students. In the past, UWA has supported student mental health in-kind through traditional pathways, such as counselling and psychology appointments, access to medical practitioners and mental health nurses, and through accessibility support. Presently, UWA is investing to further expand available mental health support avenues for students. One such Australia-first initiative, funded by UWA, is an exercise-based mental health support program called Stride.
Although Stride is an Australian first, the idea for Stride is from international collaboration and thorough research. During a conference, Associate Professor Ben Jackson and Dr Bonnie Furzer learned of MoveU. HappyU. directed by Professor Catherine Sabiston at the University of Toronto. This was a six-week mental health support program focusing on exercise and behaviour change. Once back in Perth, the researchers proposed the idea of creating a similar program here at UWA. After collaboration with students, staff, researchers, and UWA services and programs to create the best fit for UWA, Stride was born.
Stride is a free 12-week exercise program for UWA students experiencing mental health difficulties. Students are paired with a Stride mentor, a specifically trained student studying one of the undergraduate or graduate exercise science UWA degrees. The student’s mentor has a dual role, to be their peer-exercise ‘buddy’ and to work together to assist in the management of the student’s mental health while targeting any other exercise goals they have. Students referred to Stride are provided autonomy in the exercise modality they would like to engage in. A few examples of these include resistance training, swimming, tennis, yoga, exercise classes and squash.
The future of stride
Stride has had a positive start since its beginning in 2020. Currently, there have been over 250 referrals to Stride, over 800 sessions delivered, and 1200 hours of work-integrated learning provided for the Masters and third-year exercise peers. Moreover, as research is thoroughly embedded in the program, we hope to see multiple papers published over the coming months and years. With the continual support of Stride over the next five years, the aim includes further developing the Stride program at UWA, providing evidence that programs of this type are feasible, and exploring the notion of implementing similar programs throughout campuses across Australia.
About Conor Boyd
After completing an undergraduate degree in Sports Science and Exercise and Health at UWA I decided to enrol in post-graduate study to become an Exercise Physiologist. My time studying at UWA increased my desire to help people through exercise. Since graduating, I have been in the fortunate position to work at Thriving, an exercise program that aids kids who have difficulties playing or integrating into community sports; and the UWA Exercise and Performance Centre, an on-campus clinic that provides exercise rehabilitation services for a host of conditions. Seeing a large variety of conditions and individuals allowed me to improve my clinical and interpersonal skills, which have been integral to successfully working with clients experiencing mental health challenges. Along with Stride, I currently work at Fremantle Hospital in the mental health ward, the combination of these two workplaces has been invaluable in my journey as an Exercise Physiologist.
Away from work usually sees me still engaged in sport and exercise, whether that be playing sport myself or watching it. I am currently completing a thesis on the impact Stride has had on the Stride mentor’s confidence and professional development when working with someone with a mental health difficulty. Otherwise, I can most likely be found spending time with family and friends.