Exercise linked to better mental health - but too much may do harm

i've found that whenever the urge to take some exercise come on, the best thing to do is have a cup of tea and a lie down. The urge soon passes.

Old news. It's long been accepted that exercise lifts the mood.

The study included all types of physical activity, ranging from childcare, housework,

They counted those? Well, fair enough. I only do housework when in a rage about something, so I suppose it must help!

...people who exercise every day reporting lower levels of mental health.

Chicken and egg. Because we are forever being told that exercise can improve mental health, people with mental ill-health are encouraged / feel they ought to do it.

A stroll or a swim will deal with some temporary stress and tension, but exercise is not enough to deal with serious illnesses, like depression, anxiety, post-partum depression, grief, suicidal thoughts, etc., and people with these illnesses should be encouraged to seek help from a qualified professional with a prescription pad.

Those horrible bloody 'uplifting' memes with photos of trees that say things like, "A walk in the forest is better than anti-depressants" can do more harm than good, for people who are struggling to get out of bed and function. Never criticise someone who is taking, or considering taking, medication for their mental illness. It can be the lifesaving stepladder they need to pull them out of a dark deep cavern.

Then you can go for a walk with them and hug a tree.

I like to watch videos on my ipad while on the treadmill. Don't like to go for long walks in the summertime.

Chicken and egg. Because we are forever being told that exercise can improve mental health, people with mental ill-health are encouraged / feel they ought to do it.

I can only speak from personal experience, but my personal experience definitely follows what they are saying. I don't feel better when I am exercising because I'm told I should, I feel better because I feel better.