‘You won’t get left behind’: immersive insights into a running mental health peer support group

<p dir="ltr">There has been limited research into the impact of community-based running mental health peer support groups. This study explored participants’ experiences of Run Talk Run; a group which combines exercise with talking about mental health. We recruited 15 participants from three Run Talk Run groups. To support a more immersive data collection process, we combined video recordings of runs with follow-up interviews. Through a reflexive thematic analysis, we generated two themes: ‘Nobody left behind: on and beyond the run’, which described how the sense of community in the group forms and the processes underlying this; and ‘It’s not therapy: navigating shared spaces and negotiating personal boundaries’, which highlighted difficulties that can arise in peer support and how these are navigated. Our interpretive insights suggest that although there are psychosocial benefits to running-based mental health groups, the distinction between peer support and formal therapy can lead to tensions, insecurities, and dilemmas. It is important to be explicit about the remit of mental health peer support running groups so that people are clear about their purpose.</p>