Participation in and satisfaction with an exercise program for inpatient mental health consumers

Purpose: This study examines attendance at, and satisfaction with, a group exercise programin an inpatient mental health setting. Design and Method: Thirty-two inpatients completed discharge surveys to evaluate group activities. Data were analyzed for participation and satisfaction. Findings: More inpatients (n = 16, 50%) rated exercise as “excellent” compared with all other activities. Non attendance rates were lowest for cognitive behavioral therapy (n = 2, 6.3%), highest for the relaxation group (n = 6, 18.8%), and12.5% (n = 4) for the group exercise program. Practice Implications: Group exercise programs delivered by highly trained personnel are well attended and achieve high satisfaction ratings by inpatient mental health consumers.