Lizzy Whitehead

1. Lizzy Whitehead Paths to Health – delivering Scotland’s Physical Activity Strategy Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

2. Who are we? Walk @ Work What is a health walk? Paths to Health Primary Care Work Walking and Health Tommy and Archie Test your knowledge Braveheart Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

3. What is Paths to Health? A national project which: • Delivers Scotland’s Physical Activity Strategy • Supports local health walk projects (advice, training, grants, networking, volunteers) • Develops new models of working (eg workplace walks, pedometer loan packs) Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

4. Our Partners in Scotland Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

5. What is a Health Walk? • A short local walk led by a trained volunteer • Targeted • Comfortable pace to suit needs • Helps people become more active • Less than an hour • Sociable and welcoming • Free Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

6. A Health Walk Intensity Slow Pace Slow Pace Time Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

7. Over 200 community based Paths to Health Schemes in Scotland Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

8. Walk More, Feel the Difference! Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

9. What is Health? ‘A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity’ (World Health Organisation) physical social mental Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

10. Main Risk factors - Coronary Heart Disease • Inactivity(the most common) • High Cholesterol • High Blood Pressure • Smoking Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

11. Who are we? Walk @ Work What is a health walk? Paths to Health Primary Care Work Walking and Health Tommy and Archie Test your knowledge Braveheart Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

12. Test Your Knowledge! People living in poorer areas in Scotland are more likely to have heart problems • True • False Answer (a) 19% of men living in poorest areas and 11% of men in the most wealthy areas will suffer from a form of cardiovascular disease Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

13. Test Your Knowledge! What percentage of GP visits involve mental health issues? • 10% • 60% • 30% Answer (c) • About one in five Scots will experience a mental health problem in any one year • 30-40% of absences from work are caused by mental health problems Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

14. Led and Independent Walks Falkirk Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

15. Evaluation of independent walk pack • 54% responses from men • 45% tried the walks in the pack • 72% had a heart problem • 64% don’t attend led walks Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

16. Coatbridge Health Walks, North Lanarkshire Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

17. Tommy • Joined the walks after his wife died • Attended walks • Volunteers as a driver • New circles of friends and support • Heart attack - fast recovery • Mental and physical benefits Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

18. Archie East Renfrewshire, Walk Leader “My health and fitness have improved since joining the walking group and I also no longer need to take my medication for angina.” Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

19. Who are we? Walk @ Work What is a health walk? Paths to Health Primary Care Work Walking and Health Tommy and Archie Test your knowledge Braveheart Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

20. Primary Care • Tool to help health professionals engage in a discussion on physical activity with patients • Individualised target setting • Pedometers motivate some people to increase walking • Amongst study group – evidence shows that pedometers help patients significantly increase steps in the short term • Health professionals would recommend the pack to others Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

21. Walk @ Work Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

22. Percentage of working people in Scotland, who spend over 4 hours sitting at a screen each weekday* Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health *Source – Scottish Health Survey, 2003

23. It Pays… to Be Physically Active In Scotland: 3.8 million working days are lostdue to work-related illness and workplace injuries. • The rate for stress, depression or anxiety is getting higher. • Ill health alone costs £80-100 million per year. Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

24. Case Study Prospect Community Housing, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh: The ‘Prospect Pacers’ Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

25. Gillian Young, delegate on a Workplace Walk Organiser course, January 2007. “for once, after a training course I came back to the office inspired to share what I learned!!”I went through all the steps advised in our Training Manual, and last week we launched “The Prospect Pacers” We are on a 6 week programme walking on a Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime. Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

26. Walk @ Work Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

27. Who are we? Walk @ Work What is a health walk? Paths to Health Primary Care Work Walking and Health Tommy and Archie Test your knowledge Braveheart Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

28. In summary…..Paths to Health offers: • Advice and support • Networking • Grants • Tools Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

29. Thank you! Any questions? www.pathstohealth.org.uk Tel 01259 218855 Men’s Health Forum Scotland. Advisory Group Seminar: Sport, Physical Activity and Health