Members of One Thought Health and Wellness took a standing count to tell the Press about the free mental health boxing sessions that are putting them in the right mood.

Gordon Brennan, of Trench Boxing & Fitness, started it all seven years ago and now there are 40 people a week attending classes.

The One Thought Health and Wellness sessions are helping to lift spirits in Dunfermline. (Image: David Wardle)

One of the group, a 64-year-old man who asked not to be named, said: “I was suffering from severe depression and anxiety but a combination of Gordon’s classes, Andy’s Man Club and medication got me back to where I should be.

“The boxing classes helped me, and they’ve helped a number of others too.

“The benefits from doing exercise are well known.

“You get the high from doing it and it takes your thoughts away from anything else you might be thinking when in a low mood.

“I’ve seen the difference from when they first walk through the door in a really bad frame of mind to now – it’s like chalk and cheese.

Physical exertion can help with your mental health. Doctors are even recommending the sessions to their patients. (Image: David Wardle)

“There is a general lack of support from government for mental health issues so Andy’s Man Club and Gordon’s free training are a godsend.”

He added: “There is that trepidation. I had a vision everyone would be younger, fitter, real boxers, and that I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“But you couldn’t get a friendlier bunch. They’re very supportive of each other.

“There’s always people to chat to, about how your week’s been, anything getting on your nerves.

“There is a number of women that come along as well.”

‘Who do you not like? Just imagine their face on the bag and hit it as hard as you want! (Image: David Wardle)

The member said: “Gordon was already providing free boxing for mental health purposes twice a week.

“He was having to pay for it, train and provide the coaching, so hats off to him for starting this brilliant initiative.

“Some of us got together and wondered if we could get funding to pay for it so we created an association, One Thought Health and Wellbeing, we’ve got a chairman, treasurer and I’m the secretary.

“We managed to get lottery funding, which was absolutely brilliant, and we have leaflets that go out to GPs and mental health nurses.”

Gordon Brennan has been running free mental health sessions, called One Thought Health and Wellness, for seven years. (Image: David Wardle)

There is a hope that, if they can get more funding next year, they can start running classes during the day too.

Another member, who is 49, told the Press: “I’ve been at a few gyms but this one was suggested to me as Trench is a bit quieter.

“I started the normal training and then I saw a leaflet for the One Thought sessions so thought I’d give it a try.

“I’d been finding work to be really stressful and this has been really good for me.

“I don’t get fazed by much now.

“I started going twice a week and aside from the mental health side, the fitness has brought me to a new level, I can do more than I previously thought.

The free mental health sessions, on Tuesday and Saturday, are attended by men and women. (Image: David Wardle)

“I’m going to start sparring soon.”

He went on: “It’s all down to Gordon and the way he coaches. He understands people as well and it’s a friendly community.

“It’s worked for me and I’ve seen it work for other people too.

“Everyone makes you feel welcome and I can’t recommend it enough.

“I don’t think people fully understand what it does for you.

“It’s like a pressure valve release.

“Doctors recommend it too. I think it’s really underutilised, more people should know about it.”