Cambridge swim coach holds high hopes for depression study
Swimmers will be taking part in lessons for the trial
Last updated 15th Jun 2024
A swim coach in Cambridgeshire hopes an outdoor water study will benefit those battling mental health issues.
Swimmers will take part in lessons at the Jesus Green Lido in Cambridge to see how outdoor swimming can reduce the symptoms of depression.
The study - led by the University of Portsmouth and the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - is taking place over two-and-a-half years.
"People get a tremendous sense of euphoria"
Colin Campbell is a coach at the Cambridge Swimming Company that's delivering the lessons in partnership with Jesus Green Lido operators, Better.
"It's about helping and enabling them to go into open water safely and enjoy it, and getting the reward from going into cold water," he said.
"Generally, people who go into outdoor water get a tremendous sense of euphoria and in the medium to long-term, going into cold water regularly helps reduce inflammation and we know that inflammation leads to various health issues."
What is the study about?
The 'OUTSIDE' (OUTdoor Swimming as a nature-based Intervention for DEpression) study is thought to be the UK’s first official clinical trial to explore the benefits of the activity in adults with depression.
Participants are being encouraged to take part in the randomised trial at 15 sites across England, to find out if people with mild to moderate depression benefit from an outdoor swimming course and explore the reasons why any changes occur.
Around 480 adults in England who have symptoms of depression are involved in the study, which is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
What are the lessons?
Two groups, one for swimmers taking part in the trial and one for non-swimmers who are not, will be assessed following the Cambridge lessons.
The controlled lessons, part of the study, will take place over an eight-week period where participants will learn skills such as swimming techniques.
Researchers will then explore whether the sessions lead to greater reductions in the severity of depressive symptoms and anxiety up to 38 weeks after the trial.
It's hoped that the results of the study will lead to finding safe and cost-effective ways of treating depression.
Impact
"It's not going to be a solution for everybody, but it's clear to myself that something's there and this trial will give us real data that will be able to demonstrate that impact," Colin added.
"I think the outcome is looking for a non-pharmaceutical way to treat depression; it's obvious taking a tablet versus going for a swim, which one is better for us socially if both have the same outcome."
Dr Heather Massey, from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science and Extreme Environments Laboratories, is co-leading the study.
“We reported reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety in the outdoor swimming group compared with the control group, and there was a lower number of them seeking depression-specific therapy post-treatment and at follow-up," she said.
"The use of antidepressants and sleeping tablets, on average, also reduced more.
“If we can demonstrate outdoor swimming is a viable and cost-effective treatment for depression, it has the potential to be rolled out across the UK.”