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A study commissioned by the Wild Swim Project uncovered the profound mental health benefits of immersing oneself in cold water outdoors.

Based in Surrey, the Wild Swim Project focuses on using natural environments to support adults and teenagers grappling with significant mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Coaches Paul Mackenzie and Jude Palmer spearheaded the study among participants and found substantial improvements in mental well-being.

Over six months, participants engaging regularly in group wild swim sessions reported remarkable enhancements: a 25% increase in life satisfaction, a 20% boost in happiness, and a 23% rise in feelings of worthiness, Swimming.org reported. Most notably, anxiety levels decreased by 18%.

The study builds upon findings from Swim England's Value of Swimming report, underscoring that regular swimming prevents 78,500 cases of ill health annually and contributes £2.4 billion socially each year.

The Wild Swim Project adopts a non-clinical approach rooted in behavioural activation theories to combat severe depression. Clinicians noted immediate calming effects from regular cold water swims, often reducing depressive symptoms and halting self-harm tendencies.

To date, the project has engaged over 100 individuals, with 60 participants committing to a comprehensive four-session course. Participants, including adults referred by GPs and mental health charities, as well as teenagers supported by NHS teams, have reported profound experiences.

Paul Mackenzie noted the holistic benefits of wild swimming beyond the physical act, describing it as a transformative experience in serene environments. He highlighted the sense of euphoria and community fostered among participants, fostering a deeper connection with nature and each other.

"Both dipping and swimming in nature makes you feel alive, it clears your head and makes you realise that if you can do this, you can do other things," Mackenzie explained. "Once you are out of the water, there is the feeling of euphoria and of community as you smile at your fellow dippers"

Jude Palmer echoed these sentiments saying, "Participants benefit from improved confidence, body positivity, mental health, the learning and passing on of new skills, taking on new challenges, engaging with their local wild spaces and thereby creating emotional connections to it, meeting people from other walks of life and very importantly, socialising as part of a wider community."