Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
Fitness program supports young mental-health patients at Sunnybrook
John Bain and trainer Evan Wallman started a fitness program for young mental-health patients at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
Bain was inspired by his daughter, who found exercise helpful while receiving care at the hospital, where there was no structured fitness program.
The program began on the hospital’s 10-bed youth ward in 2024 after organizers developed the idea and worked through details with the hospital.
Wallman now spends a couple of hours there twice a week, leading activities including boxing, yoga, weight training and incline hiking.
Organizers have raised $93,000 for equipment and Wallman’s training sessions.
Fitness is part of treatment alongside art and music therapy, and Wallman says patients have told him the program makes a difference.
The organizers hope the hospital will eventually take over the funding, but they are continuing to raise money for now.
A fitness program for young mental-health patients at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital began in 2024.
Trainer Evan Wallman works with patients twice a week on activities including boxing, yoga, weight training and incline hiking.
John Bain and Wallman developed the program after discussing the role of exercise in mental health.
They have raised $93,000 to cover equipment and Wallman’s training sessions.
The sessions are part of the ward’s treatment alongside art therapy and music.
- Who
- Organizers John Bain and Evan Wallman, and young patients on Sunnybrook’s mental-health ward.
- What
- A fitness program that offers activities including boxing, yoga and weight training.
- When
- The program began in 2024.
- Where
- The 10-bed youth mental-health ward at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
- Why
- Bain and Wallman wanted to provide structured physical activity after learning that exercise helped Bain’s daughter and could benefit mental health.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bain and Wallman discussed the importance of exercise to mental health.
They developed a concept for a fitness program and took it to Sunnybrook.
Wallman began leading fitness sessions on the hospital’s youth mental-health ward.
- Hospital
- Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto
- Ward capacity
- 10 beds
- Program start
- 2024
- Sessions
- Twice a week
- Funds raised
- $93,000
What people are saying
I can’t say enough about how she’s been able to leverage physical activity and set herself goals. It’s been amazing,
When you see them smiling and having fun, singing and laughing, and when they say how this is impactful for them, I’m like, ‘Okay, I can keep doing this’.