Mental Health Swims
“We believe in empowering everyone – people of all skin colours, body shapes, ages, sexualities, genders, backgrounds and abilities to enjoy the healing power of cold water and community. Join us for a chat on the beach, a litter pick, a paddle or a swim in the shallows. We are an easy-going group that prefers short dips to long distances and puts companionship before competitive swimming.”
A cold water dip in company. A warming cup of tea (maybe some cake) after. And a safe inclusive environment in which to chat. Probably some bobble hats, definitely some laughter. Mental Health Swims is putting into practice the science that says cold water swimming can positively impact how we experience our anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions.
What started for Rachel Ashe as a January swim at her local beach in Swansea to help with a personality disorder diagnosis has become an award-winning social enterprise with a network of 80 volunteer meets across the UK and Ireland. Rachel talks to us about how Mental Health Swims is as much about the therapeutic benefits of being in community as the cold water, and how you can give it a try.
What is it? Mental Health Swims is an award-winning mental health peer support community with a huge network of groups organised by nearly 300 volunteers across the UK and beyond. We welcome anyone who is struggling with their mental health to try the healing power of cold water and community. Our motto is dips not distance and community not competition. This is in everything we do.
Why do people need it? It can be hard to get outside and meet people when you’re struggling with mental illness. Going for a dip can help you find something to talk about — the weather, how it feels when the cold water hits your body and where you got your bobble hat from. Somehow, talking about nothing very important can help make it easier to talk about how we feel.
Cold water itself is a great way to reconnect with your body and lower stress.
What do you offer? We offer in-person monthly mental health peer support groups.
What makes it different? We are very community-minded. We train all our volunteers in mental health awareness, cold water safety and volunteer well-being so you can be assured that you will be made to feel welcome and included.
What do people need to know? Check out our website to find your nearest group or if you’re interested in setting up your own mental health swim follow us on Instagram as we will be opening applications again at the end of the month.
