The woman who prescribed cold water says it saved her life

A woman prescribed cold water swimming to treat her depression says the activity “saved her life”. Helen Downham, 37, went through a series of traumatic events between 2019 and 2022 – including leaving a relationship, losing her job and breaking her leg.

The single mother was already suffering from mental health issues, but said the events, exacerbated by the pandemic, made her consider taking her own life. Helen, from Warmley, Bristol, was prescribed medication for depression and anxiety, which she said did not help.

Then, in January, her doctor suggested she sign up for an NHS initiative called ‘social prescribing’ – which connects people to activities, groups and services in their community. She was sent on a six-week course with a local women’s cold water swimming group – and decided to give it a try.

After just one session, Helen was amazed to notice the physical and mental impact it had on her – and she was instantly hooked. He now goes at least twice a week, has made lots of new friends – and for the first time in years, he no longer “dreads getting up in the morning”.

Helen, who is currently unemployed, said: “When my mental health was at its worst I hated everything and didn’t want to be here anymore. The doctors increased my medication and told me to exercise, but the pills numbed everything and I couldn’t leave the house.”

“But when cold water swimming was mentioned, a little spark went off in my head. The cold took my breath away at first – but I loved it and never looked back.”

“It’s absolutely bliss – after I swim my head feels so much clearer, calmer and I feel so happy. I used to isolate myself and never want to leave the house – now I’m so excited to go and swim with my friends that I can’t sleep the night before.”

“It completely changed my life – it saved my life.”

Helen – who has a 14-year-old daughter – said she went through a difficult break-up in December 2019. She was already suffering from anxiety and depression but claims it got worse after she left her partner as she found herself in limbo .

In October 2020, she was then fired from her beloved job as a senior support worker. She said: “Losing my job was the worst thing that ever happened to me. My work was my life.”

After signing up to claim Universal Credit, she had a series of problems with her social housing in 2021. She thought things couldn’t get any worse until she broke her right leg while walking her dog in March 2022.

Helen said, “That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I couldn’t leave the house for weeks and developed severe agoraphobia.”

“It got to the point where my mental health was so bad that I just didn’t want to be here anymore. I thought if anything else happens, that’s it – I’ll end my life.”

Her medication increased and she said she was advised by her doctor to “do more exercise” – but she said it had no effect. Eventually, her doctor signed her up for the ‘social prescribing’ initiative – suggesting she might benefit from some activity in her community.

Helen wasn’t convinced, but her ears pricked up at the suggestion of a cold water swim, as a friend had previously recommended. In January this year, she went to her first session with the women-only group, based in Bradley Stoke, Bristol, and loved it.

Helen said: “When I first went I didn’t know what to expect. It was a shock, it took my breath away because it was so cold. Every part of my body was cold, but it acclimatized very quickly. When I got home I felt tired, but I noticed that I felt much clearer in my head and was so calm.”

Since then, she has continued with her original group and has also joined another – and goes cold water swimming at least twice a week. She has managed to make many new friends as well as improve her health and mental wellbeing – and says it has changed her life.

She said: “I think it’s a combination of the cold water and the social aspect of seeing your friends in a group. It relaxes you and reduces your stress levels. It just works wonders – it’s changed my life.”

Helen is now championing the NHS social prescribing scheme and wants to make more people aware of the good it can do. She said: “Most people I talk to have never even heard of social prescribing, but it’s such a wonderful concept.”

“I still have mental health issues that I struggle with, but I don’t dread getting up in the morning and I look forward to my next swim. I couldn’t have been more supportive – it completely changed my life – and saved me.”