Green & Blue Social Prescribing
For the past few years the NHS has begun to explore a more holistic, person centred approach to medicine, recognising the value of services which provide alternatives to medication. Whilst not a fix, all prescribing a patient with activities involving the arts or sport creates space, bonds and opportunities to connect through a shared experience. The impacts can be incredibly powerful and have long lasting benefits that can be far more effective than prescribing the same pills and medication that often treat the symptom not the cause.
Here’s what one of our participants had to say about our wild swimming for wellbeing social prescribing programme:
“I can’t thank Open Minds Active enough for providing the 6-week Wild Swim Programme which I accessed through Blue Social Prescribing. As someone who suffers with severe social anxiety and depression, the world around me is pretty small at the moment. Being referred for wild swimming by my Mental Health Team, has been one of the best experiences to have happened to me in a very long time. It has provided me with a tool kit to work towards a happier and healthier future. I not only was able to experience the benefits of wild swimming under the guidance of experts, but have also created a new social network. Many of us have agreed to continue swimming and meeting on a Thursday, which I feel so grateful for. Access to these programmes, is crucial, I would even go as far as to say life changing. It has broadened my horizons and is giving me opportunities alongside therapy and medication to support my own health and well-being. I can only hope that more and more people are lucky enough to get this experience in the future.”
One participant shares her powerful story
“Wild swimming has taught me to relax and enjoy life again, after working pretty much full time whilst studying a course for 3 years at the same time, I lost the ability to relax, chill and have fun. Going into lockdown soon after I finished the course I felt very isolated living on my own, lost contact with friends and struggled greatly with my mental health, allowing certain medical issues to control my life.
Coming to the group I enjoy it for social aspect, meeting new people, getting out more and socialising not just with the same few work people/ close family. If you are not careful in life you always end up meeting the same kind of people, it’s good to meet different people.
The beauty of the group is that everyone is in different circumstances and are there for different reasons. Everyone in the group is so lovely and supportive if you are having a wobbly moment, everyone just makes you feel loved and supported and asks no questions. No one is judging each other. There is no competition in the group, it is more just pushing yourself and cheering each other on to swim a bit better/more than your last session, there is no pressure.
I am finding the sessions as a way of escaping from everything, life but mainly work, I find it incredibly hard to switch off from work. When I am swimming, I am just in my own little bubble - nothing else matters. Medical issues have severely knocked my confidence over the past few years, but this supportive space is teaching me to learn to live with my issues and accept them. Whilst I have learned new swimming tips, I have also learned breathing techniques which help me in everyday life not just in the water.
The way a wild swim session makes me feel is so amazing, when I get out the water my whole body feels completely relaxed and chilled out. My limbs feel quite heavy but also tingling in a good sort of way, I feel very spaced out in my own little world. It is the best feeling ever - Who needs drugs!”