Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has held the first in a new series of lectures focusing on the relationship between sports and mental health.
Providing a platform for ideas and discussions that attract sports experts from around the world, the opening event in the Aspire Speakers Series – held in co-operation with Qatar Foundation – welcomed Dr John J Ratey, associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of Spark.
The series examines the links between sports and physical exercise and the human brain – with the discussion being moderated by beIN Sports presenter Andy Kerr and attracting more than 52,000 views.
In his talk, Dr Ratey referred to a story that occurred with a patient who was injured during his participation in a marathon, saying: "Treatment for a disorder not only with drugs , but also with exercise, is a great way to help treat patients' diseases and allow them to better focus toward a better life."
Against the backdrop of Covid-19 , the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of people around the world has been placed in the spotlight. The Aspire Speakers Series has been launched to bring together thought leaders and promote social awareness of the connection between sports and mental wellbeing.
Details of the second episode in the Aspire Speakers Series will be announced shortly, and the public are being invited to participate in the conversation by asking questions directly to the speakers in this series via AZF’s social media platforms.
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