WEEK ONE
💬What’s your reason to swim for your mental health?
As MSA celebrates its 50th Anniversary year, and that year is flying by fast, its time to pause and take stock. For the next month (well five weeks actually however that’s totally ok as it gives another reason / extra seven days to get down to the pool, ocean, harbour, river, lake, dam or stream and jump in), MSA will be showcasing all the great reasons to swim to benefit your mind, body and soul.
Please join with MSA and commence the ‘Swim for your mind’ initiative… and share with us your experiences, feedback pre and post swim and add in any good advice for our masters swimming peers … all in support of swimming for life!
This week, we’re diving into how swimming helps calm the mind, lift your mood, and bring emotional balance back to your day.
Here are 10 reasons swimming supports your mental and emotional health:
1️⃣ Reduces anxiety through rhythmic, repetitive movement.
2️⃣ Improves mood by releasing feel-good endorphins.
3️⃣ Reduces symptoms of depression.
4️⃣ Clears mental fog and improves focus.
5️⃣ Promotes emotional regulation.
6️⃣ Provides a sense of calm through meditative movement.
7️⃣ Lowers stress hormones like cortisol.
8️⃣ Encourages mindfulness and present-moment awareness.
9️⃣ Improves self-esteem through accomplishment and physical mastery.
🔟 Relieves tension stored in the body and mind.
💬 So what is your reason to swim for your mental health?
WEEK TWO
💬 What’s your reason to swim for your mental health?
This week is about Rest, Reset & Rebalance:
When life gets overwhelming, the water is where we can reset.
Swimming can help you rest better, breathe easier, and find calm again.
Here are 10 reasons swimming helps your body and mind rest and rebalance:
1️⃣ Improves sleep quality by calming the mind.
2️⃣ Reduces insomnia symptoms.
3️⃣ Helps reset circadian rhythms, especially when swimming outdoors.
4️⃣ Promotes deeper relaxation post-swim.
5️⃣ Helps quiet racing thoughts.
6️⃣ Activates your parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”).
7️⃣ Supports brain health and memory.
8️⃣ Improves oxygen flow to the brain for clarity.
9️⃣ Triggers dopamine release to boost motivation.
🔟 Reduces inflammation linked to mental health challenges.
Dive in, then drift off. Tag us in your post-swim relaxation moment using #50ReasonsToSwim

WEEK THREE

💬 What’s your reason to swim for your mental health?
The water doesn’t just move your body — it moves your mindset
This week, we’re celebrating how swimming soothes your senses while building mental resilience and strength.
Here are 10 reasons to dive in and feel empowered:
1️⃣ Water pressure provides calming sensory input (like a full-body hug).
2️⃣ Hydrostatic pressure soothes the nervous system.
3️⃣ Cold water immersion triggers energising endorphins.
4️⃣ Floating brings weightlessness, reducing sensory overload.
5️⃣ The sound of water is deeply soothing and meditative.
6️⃣ Builds mental resilience through physical challenge.
7️⃣ Teaches patience and endurance.
8️⃣ Fosters a growth mindset — you can always improve.
9️⃣ Creates a healthy routine for mental structure.
🔟 Provides a positive outlet for stress or frustration.
💪 How has swimming made you stronger — mentally or emotionally? Tell us using #50reasonstoswim

WEEK FOUR

Swimming connects us — to water, nature, and each other 💧
This week, we’re celebrating the friendships, community, and sense of belonging that come from swimming together.
Here are 10 reasons swimming helps you connect and feel supported:
1️⃣ Encourages community through group swims or classes.
2️⃣ Creates positive social interaction without pressure to talk.
3️⃣ Combats loneliness through regular swim groups.
4️⃣ Boosts confidence in social settings.
5️⃣ Offers opportunities to support and be supported.
6️⃣ Connects you to nature through outdoor swimming.
7️⃣ Sunlight exposure boosts Vitamin D and mood.
8️⃣ Natural water offers grounding effects.
9️⃣ Being in nature reduces stress and depressive symptoms.
🔟 Enhances awe and wonder, which supports wellbeing.
🤝 Tag your swim crew, club, or favourite swim spot using #50ReasonsToSwim + your State!

The Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming

In 2017 Swim England commissioned major new research into the health benefits of swimming. The Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming report is an independent study that fully explores the impact of swimming on physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Reference: Swim England (2017). Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

1 in 5 of us will experience symptoms of mental illness in any given year. In Australia that is around 5 million people, and roughly 60% of these people will not seek help (www.blackdoginstitute.org.au). The overwhelming concern for Masters Swimming Australia is that our members are not immune to this statistic. In 2020, the impact of the temporary closures of pools, training venues, active gatherings, financial stress and isolation from friends and family etc. was unknown on members mental health. In 2020, the NBM and States discussed the benefits of supporting mental health with a focus on a Mental Health Month which began in 2021. The first two years we held our Mental Health month in May with Webinars, shared resources, and fundraising as our focus. In 2023 in support of the Black Dog Institute MSA delivered a webinar hosted by Mitchell Larkin and shared resources to bring awareness to mental health amongst members.

Resources

Mental Health Awareness is a chance to highlight the importance of connecting with one another and educate our community the benefits of swimming on mental health. MSA will regularly update this page with articles and research that will be of interest to our readers.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, contact the following crisis services:

Emergency 000
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
MensLine 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Photo Gallery

Here we share photos, images, stories of our members and clubs supporting mental health awareness (some are directly from fundraising during May 2021-2022)

2022

2021

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Wests Auburn members at visit to the Zoo
Wests Auburn members at visit to the Zoo
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Meercat keeping an eye on Wests Auburn members at visit to the Zoo
Meercat keeping an eye on Wests Auburn members at visit to the Zoo
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Lion keeping an eye on Wests Auburn members at visit to the Zoo
Lion keeping an eye on Wests Auburn members at visit to the Zoo
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Seaside Pirates
Seaside PiratesA picture from our walk and get together today which was mainly for mental health Month but a great chance to get together and get to know each other. We walked across the Harbour bridge to the Australian heritage pub and enjoyed a lovely lunch of Kangaroo and Crocodile pizza, fish and chips, salmon and chicken schnitzel. We left with the thought of doing it all again, perhaps another walk and another pub, but a great opportunity to meet “out of the pool”. Hopefully you can join us next time.
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Malvern Marlins
Malvern Marlins
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Melbourne H20
Melbourne H20
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Darwin Stingers
Darwin Stingers
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Darwin Stingers
Darwin Stingers
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Darwin Stingers
Darwin Stingers
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Darwin Stingers
Darwin Stingers
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Darwin Stingers
Darwin Stingers
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Gabrielle Obrien
Gabrielle Obrien