If you’ve strolled through Belfast parks this summer, you may have spotted the colourful Take 5 signs bolted onto benches. They’re part of a Public Health Agency (PHA) mental health campaign encouraging us all to look after our wellbeing with five simple steps. One of the most powerful? Be Active.

The science is clear: moving your body helps your mind. Exercise boosts mood, eases stress, and supports long-term mental health. That’s why the Healthwise Programme in Belfast was created—a 12-week Physical Activity Referral Scheme (PARS) that connects people to free exercise opportunities through local leisure centres.

With over 90 GP practices now referring patients, activities include swimming, gym sessions, walking groups, cycling and more—led by specialist coaches. On paper, it’s a brilliant initiative. But when we looked closer, the reality didn’t quite match the promise.

Cracks in the Healthwise Referral Scheme

Despite its aims, problems have surfaced. Activists reported that:

• Patients asking for a referral on mental health grounds were sometimes refused by their GP.

• Others were left waiting weeks or months for a leisure centre assessment before they could even start.

These delays risk locking out the very people who might benefit most.

Curious, we submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Belfast City Council and the Public Health Agency ( PHA) to get the full picture. You can read the FOI responses here.

Who Can Access the Healthwise Programme?

The FOI responses confirmed:

• The scheme is open to adults aged 19+ who want to become more physically active.

• Referrals can be made by GPs or healthcare professionals, including for people with mild to moderate mental health issues.

• People with more serious or complex mental health needs are excluded.

That last point is a sticking issue. By excluding those with greater challenges, the scheme risks leaving behind the people most in need of support.

Growing Demand—and Long Waiting Lists

Despite these concerns, uptake is strong. In 2024/25, over 3,500 referrals were made in the Belfast City Council area. The top three reasons? Mental health, BMI, and diabetes.

Funding has been increased to £166,705.87, with an additional £48,000 added mid-year to keep up with demand. But waiting lists remain a problem: at one point in 2024, over 600 people were stuck in the queue.

For someone struggling with anxiety, depression, or low mood, that wait can feel like an eternity.

Promotion Problems: Why So Few Have Heard of It

Another key issue is awareness. While posters and newsletters were circulated at the start, promotional efforts stopped during COVID and haven’t properly resumed.

Today, promotion relies heavily on digital intranets and word of mouth at community events. This leaves many people unaware that the free Healthwise exercise programme in Belfast even exists—particularly those outside professional or health networks.

Why Accessible Exercise Matters for Mental Health

Community health programmes like Healthwise can make a huge difference—especially in working-class areas of Belfast, where poverty and poor mental health often go hand in hand.

But these benefits are only realised if the system is:

• Transparent – people need to know exactly who qualifies.

• Accessible – waiting times must be reduced.

• Well-promoted – awareness campaigns should be relaunched.

The PHA and Belfast City Council have acknowledged these issues and say they’re reviewing referral processes and IT systems. But for now, too many people are still falling through the cracks.

A Call to Action: Be Active, But Make It Possible

If we truly want people to “Take 5” and Be Active, then barriers must be removed. That’s why New Script for Mental Health’s Give 5 Framework calls on government not just to encourage activity, but to be active in creating the conditions that make it possible—whether that’s reducing waiting lists, widening inclusion criteria, or relaunching proper outreach.

Because exercise really can help people who are struggling with their emotional health and with the challenges that life brings. But only if everyone gets the chance to take that first step.