How You Take Your Breathing Space

In November 2006, Breathing Space, the phone line and website for people experiencing low mood and depression, launched an online poll, through its website, to establish how the people of Scotland take breathing space from their hectic daily lives.

Over 3,000 visitors to the website took the poll and rated theirpreferred means of relaxing. Responses were received from every health board region in Scotland, from teenagers right through to seventy-something's. By far the most respondents were from Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with the majority of those coming from the 40-49 age group.

The findings were interesting with some people describing more unusual ways of getting their breathing space... from belly dancing, taking an afternoon siesta, using a therapeutic punchbag, online bingo to writing down thoughts and feelings in a journal. But the activities most popular with people in Scotland, for taking their breathing space, were: listening to music and walking, followed by reading, sports, socialising and watching films.

Tony McLaren, Breathing Space National Coordinator commented on the findings: "It is encouraging to see that so many people in Scotland are aware of the importance of the concept of breathing space and we hope that this poll, as an awareness raising activity, has helped people to think about it a little more.

"In addition, the men we are trying to reach, in our target demographic, are aware of taking breathing space and I hope they can reap the benefits.

"Often we just go through our lives doing what we do and it takes something like this to tell us that our regular jog, or walk with the dog is actually a valuable means for looking after our mental health and wellbeing."

One of the questions asked in the poll was "who would you turn to if you had a problem you needed to share". The overwhelming response to this was friends, coming before partner, family or professionals.

Tony added: "Breathing Space exists for those who, for whatever reason, cannot or do not wish to speak to their family or friends and wish instead to speak in confidence to a trained professional."