Taking the Plunge: Cold water swimming

Speakers: Mike Fletcher, Simon Gilbody, Heather Massey and Kyla Pennington

From boosting your mood and immune system to helping you keep fit and make friends, cold water swimming is hailed as a miracle cure for the modern age. But what are the risks and potential benefits of cold-water immersion? And why does the cold have such a profound effect on our mental well-being?

With thousands of Britons taking the plunge, our expert panel dives into the psychology and mental health benefits of cold-water swimming. Speakers include Heather Massey of the University of Portsmouth, an expert in extreme environments and physiology; Mike Fletcher, owner of Pool Bridge Farm, Wheldrake; Kyla Pennington of the University of York, a specialist in mental health and Simon Gilbody, a psychiatrist whose research highlights the mental health impacts of loneliness.

Each of our speakers will give a 10-minute presentation, which will be followed by panel Q&A.

Image credit: Jonny Walton, Kaptur

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