TV presenter and Paralympian Ade Adepitan MBE is one of a number of stars who lead Moodboosters and Family Moodboosters activities, which inspire children to get moving for mental health and wellbeing. Ade spoke to Moodboosters about the changes in how mental health is perceived in schools and how keeping active has helped to maintain his positivity and wellbeing.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ade moved to the UK at the age of 3 and was raised in the Newham area of London, subsequently attending school in Plaistow, “I went to quite a tough inner city school where there were lots of disruptive kids in my class”. As Ade explains, during his schooldays there was less awareness about children’s mental health and wellbeing, and his classmates “could have done with understanding what was going on with them and why they were disruptive, why they felt angry and why they couldn’t understand what was going on within them”.
Prioritising positive mental health and wellbeing for school-age children is something that Ade is now passionate about, as he explains, “I just think anything that’s to do with children and their mental health is so important, it’s something we never really took seriously or it wasn’t taken seriously while I was at school”. Ade can really see the value in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in schools when looking back to his own school days, he continues “when I look back to how it affected some of the kids that I was growing up with, and myself as well – it’s a no-brainer!”.
Maybe the reason why we struggle with change as adults is because we’ve not been taught how to deal with it properly as children”
Stability is important for both children and adults, but in modern life and with recent events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, life can be a bit more fluid and surprising. Often change is something that children, particularly younger children, have difficulty with as Ade explains, “change is something that we all struggle with, maybe the reason why we struggle with change as adults is because we’ve not been taught how to deal with it properly as children”.
Ade thinks that initiatives like Moodboosters will help to readdress that balance and aid children to become more resilient, in terms of their mental health and wellbeing. He explains, “Moodboosters is good for helping kids deal with change, it’s an amazing tool that I think’s going to be so valuable for years to come, I wish I had it [at school]”.
Ade can see the value in utilising resources like Moodboosters in the classroom and at home, as he explains “I think it’s so, so, important and I wish there was definitely something like Moodboosters when we were at school, I think it would have really helped”.
Ade led several Moodboosters activities, from helping pupils take part in an epic boat raceto riding on a rollercoaster. In one of the recently launched Family Moodboosters videos he also practices breathing techniques that children can do at home**.**
One of the key themes of the Moodboosters initiative is the importance of children getting active for their mental health and wellbeing and this is something Ade is passionate about, “I’ve always been active and I think being active and doing some kind of sport is incredibly important [for your wellbeing]”.
Image source, GettyBeing active is woven into my life, and has been a natural part of my life since before I can remember.”
Ade, who earned a bronze medal for wheelchair basketball in the 2004 Athens Paralympics, believes that keeping physically active has been a key part of his character since he was young, as he explains “being active is woven into my life, and has been a natural part of my life since before I can remember”.
As well as being a constant throughout Ade’s life, getting active has also been crucial for maintaining his mental health and wellbeing, as Ade says “the moment I get back on the basketball court or do any sort of exercise that raises my heart rate and gets me sweating, I suddenly realise how much better I feel afterwards”.
Image source, GettyMore from Ade Adepitan and Moodboosters
Moodboosters are a suite of short, interactive videos that can be used by teachers and parents/carers at home to get active, whilst supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Why not try:
• >> Ade Adepitan – Boat Race (Boost)
•>> Ade Adepitan – Meditation Station - Feeling Thankful (Recharge)
•>> Ade Adepitan – Life is a rollercoaster (Imagine)
More from Family Moodboosters
Family Moodboosters are activities to inspire everyone at home to boost their mood and use movement to manage feelings together.
Watch Ade Adepitan in the Moodboosters activity Boat Race
Further information
To access more mental health and wellbeing related videos and activities go to bbc.co.uk/moodboosters.
For more information about mental health and wellbeing, check out the dedicated area on the NHS website.
BBC Action Line has details of organisations that can offer support.
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This article was written in February 2023.
About Moodboosters. video
Watch a short clip introducing Moodboosters and find out about some of the ways the fun activities can benefit primary school aged children.
Family Moodboosters. collection
Family Moodboosters - explore videos to try at home and get the whole household moving and feeling good
Life is a Rollercoaster. video
Ade Adepitan gets pupils to imagine they’re on a rollercoaster to symbolise the ups and downs of life and remind them they can control different feelings.
