Few topics have penetrated social life in recent years as much as mental health, whether in the workplace, schools, public policy, or casual conversations with friends and family. It’s a subject that hits close to home for those who have struggled with their own mental health or have seen firsthand what the implications of mental illness can be for others.

Research from Gallup found that depression diagnoses and treatment rose significantly between 2015 and 2023, and across virtually every demographic. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the age-adjusted suicide rate increased by 30% between 2002 and 2022, with the most extreme increases being among children and young adults. In 2022, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death for all ages in the United States, but was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10–14 and 20–34, and the third leading cause for people ages 15–19. The trends are similar for deaths due to drugs and alcohol, the abuse of which is strongly associated with mental illness.

As depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and suicide rates continue to rise, so too does the number of people who are affected by our collective mental health crisis. A 2018 survey published by the American Psychological Association found that 59% of Americans know someone with a mental health disorder, indicating a general awareness of the prevalence of mental illness. In the same study, 87% of respondents said that having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of, while 86% thought the term mental illness carries a stigma. 

It seems peculiar that such a large percentage of respondents simultaneously believes that suffering from a mental illness is not shameful—and should presumably be destigmatized—but is also unfairly stigmatized. If the vast majority of us agrees that mental health shouldn’t be stigmatized, then why is there the widespread perception that it is? Why does the mental health epidemic persist despite our normalization of discussing and experiencing mental illness?

I ask these questions because I think they speak to the imprecision of our mental health discourse, which often seems more interested in endlessly highlighting the problems without making much progress on potential solutions—as though destigmatizing mental health was in itself a solution to mental illness. What I’m contending is that we can do better than simply spreading awareness, encouraging empathy, and destigmatizing mental health, all of which may be necessary, but are far from sufficient. There are other, more tangible solutions that are not receiving the attention they should, particularly in schools, workplaces, and mental health institutions. A crucial example, and the focus of this article, is physical health, which I believe is inseparable from mental health.

The Relationship Between Physical and Mental Health

The fact that there is such a strong relationship between physical and mental health makes sense when you understand the interconnections of our various bodily systems. While we may distinguish the functions of our respiratory system, digestive system, immune system, and so forth, these are mutually dependent systems. The Utah Education Network offers a succinct summary:

“Each of our body systems are interconnected and dependent on each other. Our heart, which is part of our circulatory system, does not beat unless our brain, which is part of our nervous system, tells it to. Our skeletal system is dependent on our digestive system for increase in size and strength. Our muscular system needs our respiratory and circulatory systems to supply energy in the form of oxygen and nutrients. It takes all the systems for human growth and development.” 

The interdependence of our organs is certainly not neck-down, as the brain is the most interconnected organ of all, playing a pivotal role in most major bodily functions. In 2015, a study was published in the National Library of Medicine, which examined network physiology, meaning the dynamic interactions between human organ systems. The researchers studied how diverse physiological systems in humans dynamically interact and collectively behave to produce distinct physiological states and functions. The findings are both extensive and fascinating, with two conclusions that are particularly relevant. 

First, the authors discovered that in its communication with the brain, “each organ has its own frequency profile, representing the relative strength of brain-organ links mediated through the different frequency bands.” Second, they concluded that this organ network behavior is universal, since it is “observed for every healthy subject in the database we analyzed, and thus points to a new previously unknown regulatory mechanism that underlies the dynamics of organ interactions.”

So, what does all of this mean and why does it matter? In simple terms, our organ systems, including our brain, are highly interactive and dependent on each other to function properly. This strongly supports the notion that physiological and psychological health are inextricably linked, which entails that physical and mental health are as well. If this were the case, then we would also expect to find a strong relationship between diet, exercise, and mental health. As it turns out, we do have robust evidence showing exactly that.

The 2021 Move for Mental Health Report, published by the John W. Brick Foundation for Mental Health, analyzed over 1,000 studies across 30 years, finding an overwhelming consensus that exercise significantly improves mental health. According to the report, 89% of all published peer-reviewed research between 1990 and 2022 found a positive, statistically significant relationship between exercise/physical activity and mental wellness. Numerous forms of exercise were cited in the research, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, team sports, and yoga, all of which demonstrated considerable benefits. A key reason is that exercise positively impacts our various bodily systems that affect mental health, providing the mechanistic pathway for exercise’s secondary influence on mental health.

“Physical health is clearly intertwined with mental health in a bidirectional fashion. Scientific evidence shows that changes in thinking patterns and behaviors affect neurological, endocrine, and immune systems,” the report adds. “Research overwhelmingly supports a beneficial role for exercise and increased physical activity for addressing mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety.” While the authors acknowledge that specific clinical recommendations are dependent on individual patients and their needs, they find that holistic treatment approaches that are inclusive of diet and exercise are “rarely included in prevention and treatment of mental illness, and mental health care providers are not well trained in their evidence-base or clinical utility.” This mismatch between the scientific literature and the clinical application of the evidence seems to be a major barrier to improving mental health treatment and outcomes.

There is abundant evidence for the relationship between diet and mental wellness as well, and much like exercise, the emphasis should be much greater given the weight of evidence. Most people understand that some foods have been found to positively influence mood, but are less likely to understand the deeper connection between the brain and gut microbiome. The emergent field of nutritional psychiatry is investigating precisely these mechanisms, with a growing body of research indicating that the microbiome modulates brain neuroplasticity through multiple biological pathways, including the synthesis of neurotransmitters and enzymes that facilitate healthy brain function. ⁷ More broadly, we know that proper nutrition is crucial for every bodily system, from our immune system to our nervous system. Malnutrition and excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods have been closely linked to cognitive decline and dysfunction in areas of the brain such as the hippocampus and amygdala.

A 2017 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that diets high in fat and added sugar significantly alter the bacterial composition of the gut microbiome, negatively influencing cognitive function via the gut-brain axis. A 2024 study examined the implications of this relationship between processed foods and mental health, finding that diets with high amounts of ultra-processed foods are associated with a 48% increased risk of anxiety and a 22% increased risk of depression. While much debate remains on what constitutes the ideal diet, the consensus of the nutritional literature is that ultra-processed foods should be minimized, while natural, whole foods are the staple of a healthy diet. The importance of diet and exercise should seem obvious, and yet, rarely penetrates the mental health discourse and is largely absent from mental health interventions, which is a disservice to those suffering from mental illness.

None of this is to suggest that physical health and mental illness are mutually exclusive, of course, as one can be physically fit and still struggle with mental health. My argument is that physiological and psychological health are so intertwined that it simply doesn’t make sense to treat them otherwise. The mechanics of our bodily systems are complex, to say the least, and there is plenty more research to be done on how these systems and mechanisms interact. 

However, given the compelling evidence for the intimate relationship between diet, exercise, and mental wellness, it’s alarming that our social discourse and many of our institutions seem to be ignorant—if not outright dismissive—of the importance of targeting physical health as part of our broader approach to the mental health crisis. It’s long overdue for us to take the evidence seriously and examine ways that we can encourage healthy lifestyles in schools, workplaces, and other institutions. Not as a replacement or alternative to mental health resources, but as a complement to them to facilitate a more holistic approach to health and well-being.

Promoting Physical Health in Our Institutions

With all of the science and evidence showing that physical health is instrumental to mental health, the challenge remains of finding ways to incorporate this knowledge into our institutions and practices. A necessary first step is to require that mental health professionals are educated on the importance of diet and exercise as part of a mental health protocol. Some universities are beginning to offer degrees and programs that focus on this comprehensive approach to health. Bastyr University, for example, has a dual-degree master’s program that allows students to simultaneously study nutrition, counseling psychology, and the relationship between the two.  More programs like this, or even the inclusion of courses on nutrition and exercise science in clinical psychology programs, would go a long way to ensuring that mental health professionals are receiving thorough education and training, and that patients are given proper guidance to improve their health.

Downstream of this revamped institutional training of those working in the mental health field is rethinking how we promote mental health in our schools and workplaces. It has become common for schools to have several counselors on staff, and for employers to offer employee assistance programs that typically connect employees with counselors. These are great options, of course, and we should encourage students and employees struggling with their mental health to utilize these resources. However, if the counselors we are referring people to are inadequately trained on the relationship between diet, exercise, and mental health, then they are less likely to provide the comprehensive, evidence-based advice that is needed. While schools and workplaces should continue offering—and improving—these resources, it would also be beneficial to encourage physical health in other ways.

For schools, this could mean increasing recess and free play opportunities for students, along with providing more nutritious food options. California’s Farm to School program, launched in 2021, allocates funding for schools to purchase fresh food from local farms while also giving students hands-on learning opportunities. The program, which should be a model for other states, aims to provide nutritious food options for students, support local economies, and improve the nutritional literacy of students and school staff members.

For employers, offering gym memberships or stipends for employees may also help facilitate a healthy workplace. Additionally, where feasible, employers should consider providing healthy food options through cafeterias, vending machines, or meal delivery services. The provision of such diet and exercise-related benefits may be attractive to prospective employees, while also increasing workplace productivity. While not all employees will take advantage of these benefits, we shouldn’t dismiss the utility of promoting nutrition and exercise in creating a culture that values physical health as an integral component of mental health. Whatever the details may look like in practice, our schools, workplaces, and mental health programs will benefit immensely from promoting the physical health of students, employees, and patients alike.

Ultimately, our goal should be to ensure that people have the opportunities and resources necessary to flourish, and a crucial component of flourishing is being in good health, both physical and mental. While the promotion of physical health may not be a magical panacea to the mental health epidemic, it is an evidence-based approach that warrants much more attention if we truly want to help those suffering from mental illness. Prioritizing diet and exercise may seem banal to those who desire sexier solutions, but if it’s positive outcomes we want, then it’s evidence we need—and the evidence is overwhelming.

MICHAEL HULING is a senior county planner in Clark County, Nevada, and an advisory council member at the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership.