Joining the scouts or guides appears to help lower the risk of mental illness in later life, a study suggests DANNY LAWSON/PAJoining the scouts or guides significantly lowers the risk of developing mental illness in later life, researchers have discovered. A team from the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow examined more than 10,000 people from across the UK who were born in November 1958. About a quarter of those interviewed had been enrolled into the scouts or guides, where they learnt outdoor skills and had the chance to earn merit badges. They were found to be about 15 per cent less likely to suffer from anxiety or mood disorders than peers who had never worn a woggle or sang around a camp fire. Scientists believe that attending a uniformed youth group may help to build resilience against stress or that it may increase individuals’ chances of…

Source: The Times November 10, 2016 00:52 UTC