Football for Mental Health benefits
We are living in a time of record-high stress and anxiety levels across the UK. Approximately one in five adults in England (20.2%) now has a diagnosable common mental health condition like anxiety or depression. This figure has risen markedly from a decade ago, in particular, anxiety. Recent data show over 37% of women and 30% of men reported themselves as highly anxious.
These numbers reflect millions of working-age people struggling with poor mental health on a daily basis. At the same time, physical inactivity is another silent crisis. Modern lifestyles leave many adults stuck at desks or on sofas for most of the week. In England, roughly 25% of adults (around 11.8 million people) are classified as ‘inactive,’ doing less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week.
Even broader measures show over a third of UK adults fall short of the World Health Organisation’s recommended activity levels. This lack of movement isn’t just a threat to physical health but it’s closely tied to mental wellbeing. In fact, people who are inactive have about triple the rate of moderate to severe depression compared to those who meet activity guidelines.
Clearly, tackling inactivity could go hand-in-hand with improving mental health. An infographic from Sport England’s Active Lives survey illustrating activity levels among English adults. Nearly a quarter of adults are ‘less active,’ doing under 30 minutes of exercise per week, while only about 63.7% meet the recommended 150+ minutes. The remainder are ‘fairly active’ but not hitting full guidelines. Such sedentary lifestyles not only harm physical health but also take a toll on mood and mental wellbeing.
Is a Football game better for mental health than therapy?
Rising anxiety and physical inactivity are two of the biggest health issues facing adults in the UK. Tackling them does not always need complex solutions. Sometimes it starts with something as simple as a game of football. This is not just based on experience. A major study from 2023 published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that physical activity is around 1.5 times more effective than counselling or medication for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. That is a powerful finding and it matches what many players say they feel after a game. A clearer head. A better mood. Less stress.
Data from Sport England and the Mental Health Foundation supports this. Adults who are regularly active report higher life satisfaction and lower levels of anxiety than those who are not. Football adds even more. It combines movement with purpose, time with others and a mental break from the day. That mix makes football one of the most effective and accessible ways to support mental health in everyday life.
Active through football
One reason football works such wonders is that it sneaks in vigorous physical exercise under the guise of fun. We often say ‘football is exercise by accident’. You’re so busy focusing on the game, the goals and the camaraderie that you hardly notice you’re doing a workout. But your body definitely notices. A one-hour casual game easily covers the 60 minutes of moderate to high intensity activity that doctors recommend for mental health benefits. Regular physical activity is proven to reduce stress, improve sleep quality and sharpen the mind. And football delivers all of this in one enjoyable package.
Crucially, staying active through sports like football can also reduce longer-term risk of depression by up to 30% according to public health research. Exercise isn’t a ‘nice to have’ add-on for mental health but it’s often a powerful first-line intervention. Little wonder the NHS and GPs are now increasingly ‘social prescribing’ exercise and group activities for those struggling with mood disorders. From a biological perspective, exercise triggers a cascade of benefits that therapy alone cannot. Your heart rate rises and circulation improves to deliver more oxygen to the brain. Endorphins flood your system and create, what players call, that post-game ‘buzz.’
Over time, staying active through football can boost your self-esteem and sense of accomplishment as you build skills and fitness. These are exactly the kind of positive feedback loops that traditional therapy often tries to encourage. Football achieves them organically, through play.
Social Connection and Belonging v Loneliness
Another therapeutic aspect of football is the social connection it brings. Unlike exercising alone, a football session means being part of a team, however informal. You’re sharing jokes before the game, high-fiving after a good play and grabbing a chat over a drink afterwards. For an adult who maybe spent the entire work week stressed or isolated, that hour of friendly social interaction is gold dust for mental health. It combats loneliness and fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie that is hard to replicate in a one-on-one therapy setting. Research shows that team sports have unique mental health benefits due to their social nature.
In other words, being part of a squad or a regular kickabout can be a protective factor for your mood. Humans are social creatures that thrive on community and shared goals. A weekly football game provides exactly that. A built-in community of friends and a shared purpose (even if that purpose is just to have fun and maybe score a few goals!). Many players tell us that friendship and banter are what they value most. They find a space to decompress with like minded people. It’s worth noting that simply talking to others and being in a social environment can mirror some benefits of group therapy but in a much more informal and enjoyable way.
The football pitch is a great leveller. Once you’re out there, everyone is just a teammate or opponent, not a patient. People often find it easier to open up during the post game cooldown or in the pub after. That sense of ‘we’re all in this together’ creates bonds and emotional support that can significantly lift one’s spirits. In a very real sense, a weekly 5-a-side group becomes a support network for its members. You show up for the football but you gain a circle of friends who notice if you’re not yourself and who check on you on and off the pitch.
Routine, purpose and a mental reset
Beyond the physical and social boosts, football offers something more subtle but equally important for mental wellbeing. A positive routine and a sense of purpose. When life feels overwhelming, having a simple, enjoyable routine can help you feel more in control. For many of our participants, ‘Monday is my football night’ becomes a mantra that adds structure to their week. No matter how stressful work gets or how many worries pile up, they know that come 8pm on Monday, they have an hour of escape waiting for them on the pitch.
Just knowing you have that regular date circled in your calendar can make the rest of the week more manageable. It adds a bit of rhythm and something to look forward to when you might otherwise be stuck in the grind. This routine provides not only an outlet for releasing tension (you can literally kick out your frustrations on the ball!) but also a sense of achievement and progress. You turn up to play and you leave with a healthier body and a calmer mind as a bonus.
Over time, the weekly commitment to yourself builds discipline and purpose. You become ‘someone who plays football every week,’ which can be a core positive identity especially for those who don’t see themselves as sporty or confident initially. In mental health recovery, finding a meaningful role or activity is often key.
Football can be that meaningful activity that anchors someone’s week. It’s a healthy form of escapism. For that hour on the pitch, you get to leave the day behind and focus on simple goals like completing a pass or scoring a goal. Your brain gets a break from anxieties as you drop into the flow of the game. Many players describe it as a mental reset or a ‘brain switch-off’ time. In a world of constant emails and pressures, that respite is invaluable.
Let’s recap the immediate mental health benefits a casual football session can provide. According to the Mental Health Foundation, regular physical activity like football can lead to
- Less tension and stress. Many players feel their worries ease and muscles relax after running around for an hour
- Improved mood and energy. Exercise is a natural antidepressant, often leaving you with an upbeat, energised feeling post-game
- A sense of achievement. You get a little confidence boost each time you hit a decent shot or simply stick with the habit of playing
- More focus and motivation. Clearing your head with sport can sharpen your concentration and drive in other areas of life
- Having fun and feeling connected. Perhaps most importantly, you get to laugh, compete, and bond with others
All of these are short-term benefits you can feel immediately or within hours of playing. They map very closely to what people often hope to gain from a therapy session (reduced stress, improved mood and relief) yet football achieves them via a totally different route. One that for many is more accessible.
Sport helps and science says so
None of this is to suggest that professional therapy isn’t useful. It absolutely can be life-changing and is essential for many people. However, the point is that for a lot of day-to-day mental health maintenance, a game of football can deliver equal if not greater benefits in the moment. Even the NHS is recognising this. GPs now prescribe exercise programmes for mild depression and NHS clinics partner with community sport initiatives because the outcomes are so promising. As they note, ‘being physically active can improve mood and lead to a better and more balanced lifestyle.’
Football in particular has the advantage of mass appeal and reach. It is by far the most popular team sport in the UK. Currently about 3.4 million adults in England take part in a team sport at least twice a month and football makes up a large chunk of that. In fact, evidence presented to Parliament noted that ‘over two million people play football every week in 110,000 teams and 29,000 clubs’ across the country.
This means the infrastructure and interest are already in place to use football as a public health tool. We don’t need to invent anything new. We just need to invest in and widen access to local football. Unlike therapy, which can be costly and carries a stigma for some, football is inexpensive (often just a few pounds to play) and carries no stigma at all. People go back week after week because they enjoy it, not because it’s a chore for their health.
Consider the cost-benefit too. A counseling session might cost £50–100, whereas an hour of community football might cost a fiver or be free, if provided by local services. Yet the immediate health boost might be equal or greater for many participants. A landmark 2025 review calculated that community sport and physical activity yield over £4 in social value (through improved health, wellbeing, productivity) for every £1 spent. When it comes to mental health specifically, enabling someone to regularly play football could reduce their GP visits, medication use or need for therapy down the line. It’s a preventative approach that pays off in healthier, happier people and less strain on the NHS.
Investing in Football for Mental Health
At Football for All, we believe these facts make a compelling case. An hour on the pitch is therapy, exercise and social connection rolled into one. The broader public value of football for mental health is clear and backed by hard evidence. Now it’s up to all of us, local councils, community organisations, health funders and national bodies to leverage this powerful tool. Imagine if every town had free or low-cost casual football sessions available to anyone feeling anxious, isolated or down. We’d not only get more people moving (chipping away at that 25% inactivity stat) but we’d also be offering an enjoyable outlet for stress in a friendly, stigma-free setting.
Investing in accessible football programmes (e.g. opening school pitches in evenings, funding community groups or simply promoting ‘turn up and play’ nights) could yield quick wins in improved community mental health. It’s an approach that’s warm, inclusive and proven to work. Exactly what our communities need right now. Football alone won’t solve the mental health crisis but it can be a big part of the solution. A 60-minute game brings joy, laughter, sweat and that priceless post-game calm. It builds healthier bodies and calmer minds without anyone feeling like they’re in a clinic.
In short, it helps people help themselves. So let’s take advantage of the nation’s love for the beautiful game.
Sources: The statistics and research findings in this article are drawn from reputable sources including the Office for National Statistics, Sport England’s Active Lives Survey, the Mental Health Foundation, academic journals and NHS-advised studies. These include the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2023/4 which reported 20.2% of adults with mental health conditions
