1 Million Strong gym, James Cook University psychologist partner for Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction trial on veterans
A new way to reduce PTSD in veterans is being trialled in Townsville thanks to a unique partnership between a gym and JCU.
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A JCU psychology professor has teamed up with the veteran-owned 1 Million Strong gym to teach mindfulness as part of an Australia-first study on stress levels in veterans.
James Cook University associate professor of psychology Wendy Li will instruct weekly classes, leading veterans through yoga, mindful eating, mindful walking, still meditation and attention-focused meditation.
“People seem to struggle the most with mindful walking,” Dr Li said.
“In mindful walking we pay attention to which part of the foot is touching the floor and how we push off, so it can feel awkward for people who are used to rushing everywhere.”
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is extensively used in the United States, but has never been studied in Australia.
“US studies show MBSR effectively reduces the symptoms of PTSD, stress, anxiety and depression,” Dr Li said.
“We first did MBSR at The Oasis (veteran centre), and working with this gym is the second stage of the study where we move it into the community.”
Advertising for the sessions began one week ago, but the gym has already filled an entire class, created a second class, and is discussing a possible third class after 22 people signed up in a matter of days.
1 Million Strong owner Tyrone Gawthorne said he was first approached by No Boundaries Health & Osteopathy – a veterans rehab and NDIS contractor – to host the JCU trial.
“We were approached by them and of course being a veteran I saw it as a great initiative,” Mr Gawthorne said.
“We have a good mix of people here from kids to people in their 80s, but we always wanted to build a facility for veterans too so they could rehabilitate. Training physically has monumental benefits on mental health.”
Michael Williams is one of the veterans who’s signed up to the trial after being referred by his doctor.
“I hurt my back in Afghanistan in 2012 and injured it again in an armoured vehicle in 2015 … it’s something I’ll be managing for the rest of my life and I was medically discharged for psych reasons quite recently,” Mr Williams said.
“My doctor is an ex-army doctor and he referred me here, he said they do great things and I live in Bushland Beach so it’s super easy to visit after the school drop off. I’m doing the stay-at-home dad thing right now.”
1 Million Strong head exercise physiologist Rhein Frank said the gym supports anything which helps their clients live better – particularly any non-pharmaceutical ways to improve mental health.
“We’ve got over 80 veterans on the books … guys are coming in three times a week and you can see the change in their wellbeing just from that,” Mr Frank said.
“Some people come five or six days a week and I have to tell them they are training too much, but they get so into it.”
Mr Frank said training can be a key recovery method for men who’ve develop depression.
“Men who are depressed, they want to feel powerful and capable. Training gives them the ability to understand they are those things,” he said.
“This mindfulness trial is happening at a really good time for us, because we’ve got a couple of high risk guys who’ve had hospital visits recently and they’ve signed up for it.”
Dr Li will teach all classes and expects the sessions to become a long-term fixture at the Mount Louisa-based gym.
“I’ve always been interested in supporting veterans because my father-in-law was a veteran himself and of course I’ve read a lot of reports.”
The 1 Million Strong gym doesn't have lock-in contracts and offers a free creche service for kids, making it a flexible option for trial participants.
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Originally published as 1 Million Strong gym, James Cook University psychologist partner for Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction trial on veterans
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