PowerONyou: enhancing well-being through exercise for individuals with severe mental disorders in ambulatory mental health clinics in Southern Spain

Severe mental disorders (SMDs), such as psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder and major depression, are among the leading causes of global mortality and disability.1 Individuals with SMD have a life expectancy of 10–20 years shorter than the general population, primarily due to preventable cardiometabolic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.2 This risk is heightened by unhealthy lifestyles including low physical activity and prolonged sedentary behaviour, which significantly contribute to these outcomes.3 Interventions supervised by exercise professionals have proven to be effective strategies for enhancing overall well-being and quality of life. These interventions offer a range of benefits, including increased physical activity, improved fitness and strengthened social connections, addressing the physical, psychological and social challenges faced by individuals with SMD.4 However, access to such interventions remains limited by psychosocial and structural barriers such as insufficient resources, support and motivation, hindering their implementation and integration into patient care. To address this need, PowerONyou was started in 2013 at the University Pablo de Olavide, as a research project by the CTS-948 group, ‘Physical Activity, Health and Sports’. Over time, it has evolved into a community intervention programme, implemented in mental health centres and sociohealth environments in collaboration with healthcare professionals. The programme aims to enhance the health, quality of life and social integration of individuals with SMD through exercise as a therapeutic strategy. A distinctive feature of PowerONyou is its comprehensive approach. The …