The links between exercise and mental health are well-known in scientific circles. That connection got put to the test in real life in 2020, when wildfire smoke descended on B.C. and smoke-weary residents responded by exercising less – as a result, they felt more anxious, stressed and depressed. Now a new initiative from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology wants to put what we know about exercise to greater use. One pilot program targeted students suffering from depression, combining exercise classes with support for behaviour change strategies. And while scientists are still debating exactly how exercise helps depression, there’s no denying its power to play a role. Read more.

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