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MSc Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health

To help you feel prepared for your postgraduate studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now.

Suggested reading

You will be given far more information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies.

We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive. But if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online to read over the summer we suggest the following:

  • Breslin, G., et al. (2019) International consensus statement on psychosocial and policy-related approaches to mental health awareness programmes in sport. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 5, e000585. DOI:10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000585
  • Marmot, M., et al. (2020) Health equity in England: the Marmot Review 10 years on. London: Institute of Health Equity.
  • Smith, A., et al. (2020) Exploring mental health and illness in the UK sports coaching workforce. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (24), 9332. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249332.
  • Smith, A. et al., (2022) Moving for mental health. London: Sport for Development Coalition/Mind.

Useful websites to visit

Depending on your areas of interest, you might want to visit the following websites:

Depending on your areas of interest, you might want to visit the following websites:

Things to do

To help you prepare for your studies, you may find it useful to try the following activities:

  • Find some data / evidence on how common mental illness is in your local area, region and/or country
  • For a sports organisation of your choice, find what, if anything, they do to promote good mental health and support people with mental illness (e.g. anxiety, depression)
  • Search the internet for case studies/examples of athletes, coaches or other workers in sport who have talked publicly about their mental health.

Meet your programme lead