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Lessons learnt from a pilot bicycle program with community mental health service consumers (Australia)

This brief report by Erin Devine, Marcus Handmer, Karen Bedford, Chris Rissel and Emily Low was published in the December 2011 edition of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia. It reports on an innovative cycling program for mental health service consumers in the former Sydney South West Area Health Service. Overall, the pilot cycling program appears to have had a positive impact.

Consumers rated rides as fun, with most crediting cycling with improvements in their mental and physical health. As one consumer said, “….most of the people who have been riding since the beginning have progressed out of sight…they look more healthy”.

Although no objective measures were taken, staff members reported improvements in the mental health of participants. Consumers also reported an improved relationship with staff. Both consumers and staff felt that the program should continue with most consumers reporting that they would like to ride more.

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