The role of recreational and sports centers in improving the mental health of society / Bahar Abbasi.
The positive role of recreational and sports centers and its impact on increasing and improving the mental health of society seems obvious; it should be noted that the per capita allocation of recreational and sports centers in the country does not yield interesting statistics. Generally, there is a concentration of facilities such as recreational and sports centers in major cities and centers of wealth and power. However, we will examine this issue in the broader context of society.
It must be said that recreational and sports activities are necessary for the improvement of the mental and physical health of individuals in any society. Among the indicators of average life expectancy and physical and mental health of a society, this is an important factor that improves with the promotion of recreational and sports activities.
In the present era, with the expansion of the use of new tools such as elevators and escalators, information technology tools (computers, internet, etc.), changes in lifestyle and employment patterns, and the growth of apartment living in big cities, citizens’ mobility has greatly decreased. In fact, the lack of physical activity is a major factor in increasing rates of diseases, disabilities, and deaths. Additionally, due to the excessive busyness of citizens, lack of sufficient time to perform daily tasks, and the long distance between urban service centers, citizens have become heavily dependent on cars and other modern means of transportation, and their leisure activities have been organized in a way that involves the least amount of physical movement.
Nowadays, with the rapid and astonishing growth of urban populations, the demand for using computers and other modern technology tools has increased. Therefore, most people spend more time and energy working with these new devices, which is the main cause of citizens’ inactivity. Additionally, most people spend their leisure time in urban spaces in a way that does not require physical activity; such as watching television, going to the cinema, chatting online, and playing computer games. In developing countries, overcrowding, poverty, crime, traffic, air pollution, and lack of parks and sports facilities make it difficult to choose physical activity.
In addition, in these countries, the expansion of recreational sports centers faces many obstacles, perhaps the most important of which are the difficult living conditions and low standard of living for the majority of people. Furthermore, the need to survive leaves very limited opportunities for engaging in sports and recreation. Among these, what has received less attention from city officials and managers is planning for leisure time through the development of recreational sports spaces to achieve the health and well-being of individuals.
In fact, leisure time provides the opportunity for renewing one’s energy for the continuation of human activity. Based on this idea, nowadays the expansion of recreational sports centers is not only seen as a form of entertainment for citizens, but also as a necessary and important need for a healthy and energetic life alongside the challenges of living in the information age.
It should be noted that organizing the space and providing leisure facilities is largely dependent on the quantity and quality of urban spaces and their equipment. Therefore, achieving this requires close coordination with urban planning, which in turn requires an efficient bureaucratic system, specialized managers, financial resources, and dynamic communication and collaboration between government institutions and the people.
In this regard, the role of management in various urban organizations and institutions such as the municipality is crucial for providing recreational and sports spaces needed by different segments of society to better spend their leisure time. Making changes in the municipal management system and adopting new decisions to provide regulations and models for providing leisure spaces such as parks, playgrounds, and recreational and sports centers is essential.
Recreational and sports centers play an important role in the health of society and ultimately in sustainable development. In order to achieve this, all available potential such as government resources (utilizing the full capacity and capabilities of municipalities, endowment organizations, etc.) and the capabilities of non-governmental organizations must be utilized, as well as utilizing the ideas, thoughts, and resources of the private sector.
Recreational and sports centers can have a significant impact on reducing stress, increasing physical activity, creating more opportunities for social interaction, relieving fatigue, accessing fresh air, gaining energy and family recreation, avoiding pollution and the confinement of residential environments, and escaping the monotony of city life.
In today’s world, where mass media and virtual space have occupied the minds and souls of society, and individuals spend a considerable amount of time in the virtual world, the establishment and expansion of such complexes can lead to people disconnecting from the virtual world and being present in the social environment. However, the current facilities and conditions are still far from meeting global standards and do not include all aspects and indicators of this field. Even major cities have now become one of the busiest and most traffic-congested cities in the world. Meeting the inevitable needs of this vast population requires its own special urban facilities and spaces. In this regard, the high population density on one hand and the lack of open and large spaces on the other hand necessitate the establishment of complexes with comprehensive and diverse features to provide various services and recreational and welfare facilities to meet the daily needs of citizens of all classes and income levels.
Participation in recreational sports activities leads to an improvement in the quality of life for individuals with chronic mental disorders. It also results in the enhancement of their mental, physical, social, and environmental well-being. It is recommended that psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals working in psychiatric centers in the country utilize recreational sports activities to improve the cognitive level of their patients.
One point that needs to be mentioned is the importance of achieving this matter and focusing on children. If the physical and mental health of a person is achieved from childhood, it will provide the means for raising a healthy and useful individual for society. It is obvious that achieving this issue will also reduce government expenses and increase the happiness of society.
The impact of recreational and sports facilities on the lives of children is not limited to just having fun and spending leisure time. Through proper planning and conscious architecture, these facilities can create a space where children can subconsciously be influenced by the cultural norms of society while enjoying themselves, ultimately promoting their mental well-being. This is because how children spend their leisure time has a close relationship with their growth and improvement of mental health. Sports have an impact on physical health and fitness, emotional balance and stability, social growth, and fulfilling the needs of friendship, competition, attention, security, and group spirit. It also helps reduce depression and promotes a positive body and social image. One of the important functions of sports is to aid in the growth and development of children’s psychological, social, and physical personality, as well as strengthening social interaction and facilitating growth, social and personal responsibility. Children who participate in sports and group activities have better social growth compared to other children. Therefore, it should be noted that sports
Children are the future assets of this country and their desirable growth and development depends on a dynamic and active approach to this issue, as well as the responsibility and cooperation of various relevant government institutions, NGOs, and ultimately families.
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Bahar Abbasi Children Mental health Monthly Peace Line Magazine Number 121 peace line ماهنامه خط صلح