Cornwall swimmer takes cold plunges in the sea for his mental health
The Dip a Day challenge raises awareness of how sewage discharges prevent people from reaping the mental benefits of open water
Cornwall sea swimmers are championing open water dips as a way to boost mental health.
Swimmers across the UK are urged to 'Dip a Day' in October, raising awareness of sewage in our waterways, and also to promote the mental health benefits of plunging in cold water.
Dom Goetz, who's taking part in the challenge for Surfers against Sewage, said: "It's great for mental health. I worry quite a lot and as soon as you jump in the water it goes away. The problem is still there but it stops you mulling over everything."
The challenge raises awareness of how sewage discharges prevent people from reaping the mental benefits of open water.
It comes as today marks World Mental Health Day.
Dom added: "I'm lucky that most of my male friends are pretty open minded and able to talk about their feelings but I know that's not always been the case.
"Just saying I struggle and knowing that lots of other people do too destigmatises it, and allows you to get on with life."
"Swimming is so good for mental health"
"One of the things with mental health is you can get stuck in your own thoughts but diving into cold water snaps you out of that very very quickly."
Figures show last year sewage was discharged across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales over 1,000 times each day and 399,864 across the year.
Dom added: "I'm an environmental scientist by training and I've done quite a lot of environmental activism. It's important that we understand and our governments understand that without clean water, civilisation ends.
"If there's been a lot of rain I'm careful about where I go in for a swim. If it's raining you can see the colour of the water off the storm drains and it's filthy.