The NHS should prescribe sporting activities, such as football, to people with mental health conditions rather than “just handing out anti-depressants”, according to Andy Burnham.

Talking at an event in parliament recognising the work of the Mental Health Football Association – of which he is a patron – the Leigh MP said that sport and physical activity “should have a much greater role to play in helping people regain a sense of themselves”.

Set up by Colin Dolan, the Mental Health Football Association is a non-profit organisation that uses football as part of the recovery process for mental illness.

Burnham said the initiative was “something we should be doing more of”, and added that the impact of sport was “probably underplayed” in terms of mental health.

“Football brings the benefits of physical activity but also brings that sense of belonging,” said the former secretary of state for culture, media and sport.

“It’s giving people a community to belong to and that for many people is sadly lacking.”

Improving the mental health of the nation is one of the key pillars of the government’s Sporting Future sport strategy, with clubs, foundations and governing bodies eligible to receive funding if they can demonstrate the benefit of sport to the mental wellbeing of people.