More than a game: Football, friendship and mental health recovery

As his fitness returned, so too did his energy, which had drained away in the aftermath of his diagnosis. Training sessions gave him a reason to get out of the house, and matches gave him something to look forward to. What Kaidi experienced anecdotally is increasingly supported by scientific research. Scientists and medical experts have long linked exercise with improved mental health. A recent UCLA study found that among people who exercised regularly, the number of poor mental health days was significantly lower. A 2023 review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine - drawing on more than 1,000 trials and 128,000 participants - went further still, concluding that physical activity is one and a half times more effective than counselling or leading medications at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Researchers believe part of the explanation lies in the brain itself: aerobic exercise has been shown to stimulate the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory and mood regulation. Perhaps just as importantly, football also gave Kaidi a community. Among teammates who understood what he had been through, Kaidi found acceptance where he had expected judgement. He admits he had his own stereotypes about mental illness, and had fought the diagnosis for months, uneasy about how the world might see him. But at the football club, the label fell away. …