/EINPresswire.com/ -- CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - May 16, 2016) -  There is consistent evidence that physical activity prevents the onset of depression and that physical activity interventions reduce depression. This reduction is comparable to studies that examined the effects of medication or psychosocial therapy.

On Tuesday, May 17th, at the Alberta Centre for Active Living's annual Physical Activity Forum in Calgary, Dr. Guy Faulkner will present an overview of this evidence, the challenges that have slowed the translation of evidence to practice, and next steps in making physical activity as therapy more accessible to those seeking help for depression. 

Dr. Faulkner believes that promoting physical activity may serve as a valuable mental health promotion strategy in reducing the risk of developing depression. 

Nora Johnston, Director of the Alberta Centre for Active Living, notes that sharing evidence-based research with health and fitness practitioners, policy-makers and the public is an important part of working towards the adoption of new approaches to the prevention and treatment of depression. Johnston has commented that, "this session is timely in the wake of the Fort McMurray evacuations, as regular physical activity will be an important part of recovery for the evacuees. Getting this messaging to practitioners working with the evacuees may ease the mental health issues seen after such disasters."

WHAT:
Alberta Centre for Active Living's annual Physical Activity Forum

WHEN:
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
9:00 a.m. Greetings from Dr. Penny Werthner, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary
9:10 a.m. Dr. Guy Faulkner - Keynote Presentation
10:30 a.m. Break - Media Availability
10:50 a.m. Panel discussion of the use of physical activity to prevent and treat depression
12:00 p.m. Break - Media Availability

Interviewees available at each break (approximately 10:30 to 10:45), and at 12 Noon

WHERE:
Blue Room, Dining Centre (DC), University of Calgary, 124 University Gate NW (map)

WHO:
Dr. Guy Faulkner, Professor and Researcher, School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia
Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Public Health Agency of Canada (CIHR-PHAC) Chair in Applied Public Health.
Nora Johnston, Director of the Alberta Centre for Active Living

About the Alberta Centre of Active Living
The Alberta Centre for Active Living is a key advocate of physical activity and physical activity expertise, and a primary source of research and education on physical activity for practitioners, organizations, communities and decision-makers.

About the University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is making tremendous progress on its journey to become one of Canada's top five research universities, where research and innovative teaching go hand in hand, and where we fully engage the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.'


For more information, visit ucalgary.ca. Stay up to date with University of Calgary news headlines on Twitter @UCalgary. For details on faculties and how to reach experts go to our media center at ucalgary.ca/mediacentre

Media Contact
Leanne Yohemas
Director, Communications and Marketing, Faculty of Kinesiology
University of Calgary
587-438-9011 - mobile
lmyohema@ucalgary.ca