Aspire Zone Holds Lecture to Discuss Relationship between Sport, Mental Health

Doha, February 23 (QNA) - Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has held the first in a new series of lectures focusing on the relationship between sport and mental health, as part of its goal to provide a platform for ideas and discussions that attract sports experts from around the world. The opening event in the series - held in cooperation with Qatar Foundation - hosted Dr. John J. Ratey, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of Spark. The lecture, (which was watched by about 52,000 people remotely), was moderated by beIN Sports presenter Andy Kerr. In his talk, Dr. Ratey referred to a story that occurred with a patient who was injured during his participation in a marathon, saying: "Treatment for a disorder not only with drugs, but also with exercise, is a great way to help patients treat all diseases and allow them to better focus toward a better life". Against the backdrop of COVID-19, the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of people around the world has been placed in the spotlight, which requires dealing with it away from psychological pressure and excitement, and adopting a flexible and energy-renewing lifestyle away from exposure to COVID-19 virus. The Aspire Speakers Series has been launched to bring together thought leaders and promote social awareness of the connection between sport and mental wellbeing. (QNA)