It’s #MentalHealthWeek. This year’s theme is anxiety; focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety 
What is mental health?
Just as we have physical health, we all have mental health too. Mind defines good mental health as being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. But if you go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways you’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even impossible to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.
Approximately one in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Common mental health problems include depression and anxiety, while less common problems include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
What swimmers need to know about mental health problems
– Being active can have a positive impact on mental health including: improving mood, increasing self-esteem, lowers the risk of depression, slows dementia and cognitive decline, improves sleep and reduces stress.
– Swimming has helped to reduce the symptoms of anxiety or depression for 1.4 million adults in Britain. Almost half a million British adults with mental health problems have stated swimming has helped to reduce the number of visits to a medical professional regarding their mental health.
– Swimming and being in water can help with relaxation.
Read more on Swim England’s Health and Wellbeing benefits of swimming report here: https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/xoPGCPzDGfKGxM4czybee
Read our tips for supporting swimmers at the same link – click and read the fact sheet
Read more on how swimming improves mental health: https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/VdlNCQ6EXikAWr6FPy_yS
Access our Mental Health Referral Flowchart showing how swimmers can access help and advice if they are struggling with mental health: https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/i0d4CRPGXfvmLBrhP_PYz