November 21, 2024 (Montreal, QC)
As the Gold Standard in Exercise Science and Personal Training in Canada, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) is pleased to announce the launch of the CSEP Exercise and Depression Specialization™, the only credential in the world specifically designed for qualified exercise professionals to leverage their expertise in supporting those living with depression.
Developed with subject matter experts from the University of British Columbia Kinesiology program, including Dr. Madelaine Gierc (PhD Clinical Psychology) and Dr. Guy Faulkner (PhD Exercise Psychology), this training program is intended for exercise professionals with post-secondary training in the exercise sciences. To support this new specialization, CSEP is launching a series of e-learning modules and a refreshed update to its Mental Health Literacy course.
“CSEP is proud to be a world leader in advancing this important credential to connect appropriate exercise prescription and supervision to support those in need and living with depression,” says Zach Weston, CSEP CEO.
There is strong and high-quality evidence for using exercise as a treatment for depression. In fact, the evidence is so strong that the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT; 2016 & 2024) recommends regular exercise as a first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate depression. This means that exercise is about as effective as psychotherapy and medication in treating depression.
“Enabling qualified exercise professionals such as CSEP Certified Personal Trainers® and CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologists™ with this advanced and important training has great potential to alleviate some of the strain currently born by primary care and other clinicians across Canada to help those in need,” added Mr. Weston.
Health Care Professionals, including Qualified Exercise Professionals, may find this course particularly useful if they:
- Would like to establish a practice as an exercise behaviour therapy for depression provider;
- Work with pregnant / postpartum clients; and/or
- Work with clients who experience chronic health conditions, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, chronic pain or cardiovascular disease.
Through this important project, CSEP supports the recognition that positive mental health enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. In short, mental health is a positive construct that is related to well-being.
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Associated links and related information
- Structured and supervised exercise should be seriously considered as a treatment option for people with mild-to-moderate symptoms.
- Each year, thousands of people are diagnosed with a mental health condition. In fact, by age 40 about half of Canadians will have experienced mental illness. Mental health conditions are often chronic and disabling and can have a serious impact on health and well-being.
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About CSEP:
The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology is the national voice for the advancement of evidence-informed exercise science research and clinical practice in Canada. A founding member of the International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Science Practice (ICSESP), CSEP’s vision is to realize that the health, fitness and athletic performance of all Canadians is optimized through the science of exercise.
For more information:
Zach Weston, MSc, MBA, CSEP-CEP
Chief Executive Officer
zweston@csep.ca
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