Natural Wellbeing - The phenomenon of blue health

The natural world has a profound impact on our wellbeing; mental and physical. Emily explores the concept of blue health and how being around water can improve our health.

Water is vital for all life on Earth. Proximity and access to waterways have long been central to human culture, delivering countless societal benefits such as transport links, fisheries, resources for farming, easy access to drinking water and more, and cities across the world have been founded close to these easily navigable waterways. Water shapes our lives without us really even consciously thinking about it. Over 200 million people live by the coast in Europe. Coastal and aquatic environments are the top recreational holiday destinations in Europe, with over 250 million recreational visits made to coastal regions in the UK between 2009 and 2016 - it is clear that there is something drawing us to the water.

Blue Health is a concept that links bodies of water - whether that be the ocean, lakes or other urban blue spaces, to its impacts on our physical and mental health. This concept was termed in 2016 and was designed to help study and promote health and wellbeing through better access to blue spaces, and to inform policymakers about the importance of managing blue areas.

It is thought that spending time in and around blue spaces helps with stress, depression and anxiety, has been shown to prevent disease, and is related to higher levels of physical activity, which is also linked to improved wellbeing. The colour blue itself can even relieve stress and help us to remain calm and relaxed.

Taking care of our natural environment is also a good way to improve our mental health. The 2 Minute Foundation is a charity that not only aims to take care of our natural environment, but our minds too. They note “We think it’s incredibly important for your mental health to get outside, soak up some sunshine, fill your lungs with fresh air, stretch your legs and immerse yourself in nature. With the current situation and many of us working from home, we’re indoors and on screens more than ever. Taking time out to go outdoors and spend time near our oceans, lakes and waterways is so calming and absolutely vital in keeping your body and brain happy and healthy! When you are litter-picking, street-cleaning and beach-cleaning, you're not only getting outside, but you’re also doing something incredibly valuable for nature and marine-life, which is a double win when it comes to feeling good! By posting pictures of your litter hauls and hash-tagging us on social media platforms, it also gives you a sense of family, support and belonging to a huge network of other litter-pickers who share common morals and interests.”

Blue health can also be used to shape and design forms of mental and emotional therapy. Sea Sanctuary, a mental health charity based in Penryn, Cornwall, uses this concept of blue health to provide therapy centred around the benefits of being around the water, proving how much of an invaluable resource blue spaces can be for our wellbeing. They organise activities such as sail training through their 'Sail into Life' programme and other marine activities to help children and adults who are struggling with a wide range of emotional and mental health problems.

As well as the ocean, other aspects of the natural world can profoundly impact our mood, physical wellbeing and outlook on life. The therapy of spending time out in nature, in woodlands or local green and blue spaces has been a comforting solace through recent rough environmental times.

As someone who has spent the past four years living and working by the ocean, I can recognise how much of a profound positive impact the ocean has had on my mental wellbeing, as well as the health and wellbeing of others. With research ever-ongoing into the impacts of living near water sources, I wanted to reach out and ask others about how the water affects them and their opinions on blue health.

How does water affect you?

Simon finds that spending time by the sea opens his mind to new thoughts, and allows him to relax. His favourite place that he has ever been was on his 20th wedding anniversary trip with wife Denise, where they swam with manta rays in the Indian ocean. He is reminded of this beautiful experience every time he sees the sea.

Roger has fond memories of living by the sea. He was born in Rotterdam and grew up in Brighton and the ocean provides him with a sense of home. His happy place is influenced by this, and he finds joy in dappled sunlight bouncing off of the water of a woodland stream.

Photo from Roger C., Falmouth, Cornwall.

Hannah Varney says “The sea is like meditation, it breathes in and out and for me that could be the most calming thing that the natural world can give you. The mixture of blues with salt water, the sounds of the waves and the smell of seaweed takes you into a trance and everything else around you doesn’t matter anymore. Just being close to the sea gives me a sense of tranquillity and it became my supportive friend in stressful times when studying and going through hard times.” She has previously used her feelings about the water to inspire her beautiful photography.

Abbie Smith-Page, a Marine Biology graduate says “I've always considered myself a cold person. No, not in that way - just I shiver a lot and pile on the layers, convinced I was born for warmer climates and that cold waters just weren't for me. During tough times I chose to challenge this self-diagnosis of poikilothermy and brave the Cornish seas every day for a month, wetsuit-less. This was the most humbling yet confidence-boosting and accessible forms of mental health self-care I have experienced, and for that, I owe the ocean so much”. She spends a lot of time near the water beach cleaning.

Rachel Lewis writes about the way that the ocean makes her feel. “Sea swimming was something I loved until I was about 12 when I seemed to forget all the reasons why. I didn't love the feeling of being that 'visible' on the beach, of having sandy feet and knotty hair and being way too lazy to sort out my wet clothes and towel when I got home. But in lockdown 2020, it was exactly that routine which provided a sense of normality and productivity and reminded me why I always loved it. It's the sense of ‘meditativity’ and calmness which I've never been able to achieve through traditional methods of mindfulness. Not to mention, the positive impact it had exercising my dodgy joints! The cold shock is grounding, matched by the immediate adrenaline which can uplift all and any mood - soon calmed by every slow, weightless movement through the water. It's become so ingrained as part of my routine it helped me decide, at a crossroads, where in the country I wanted to live - and it had to be near open water”.

Photo from Rachel Lewis. Towan Beach, Roseland, Cornwall.

Molly Valentin, who lives beside a lake, describes her love of the water “In my youth, I participated in several long canoe trips in remote areas in Canada. These experiences cemented my love of lakes and wilderness. The pull of the water is palpable. Endlessly fascinating, alive, changing, and moving. It is a source of peace, power, and sparkle. To live by the lake each day and share this with my family is a gift beyond measure. I no longer crave wilderness. I am content in my home, work, and family. I look out on my lake with joy and appreciation in all its seasons”.

Painting by Molly Valentin of the lake that she lives beside.

Lottie Lewis, Communications Coordinator at the 2 Minute Foundation writes “I try and go in the sea every single day, even when it’s raining, cold and windy! Whether it’s for a bikini dip, surf or longer swim, I find that the sea wakes me up and gives me more energy than a morning coffee! I find sea swimming especially valuable when I’m feeling overwhelmed, as it helps me to relax, take a few deep breaths and tackle any situation with a clearer head."

Photo by the 2 Minute Foundation from their Beach School sessions.

India Pearson, a yoga instructor and paddleboarder who has previously featured in Bloom in Doom, has founded her business Fin and Flow around her appreciation for the water. “One of my favourite quotes is ‘the cure to everything is salt water; tears, sweat, and the sea’ by Isak Dinesen. Being near water, be it the sea, a lake, or river will always calm my busy mind, no matter how big the waves may be, or cold the water is. I strongly believe spending time by water, in its natural form, can have incredible healing powers for the mind and soul. As a yoga teacher, I always try to bring its powers into my classes, either by teaching outside looking out to the horizon or connecting my students to the natural world through visualisations, like asking them to create the sounds of waves through their breath. When I am out on my paddleboard I feel at one with the water as I have to listen, and connect to its energy to stay balanced on my board. In doing I feel united with nature and can create a form of mindfulness, clearing my head from any other thoughts or worries - I am completely present in the moment”.

Thank you to all those mentioned above for their contributions to this article. If you feel so inclined, please write about what the ocean means to you in the comments below.

You can learn more about blue health in the following links, and other links throughout the article:

The BlueHealth pan-European research initiative.

The University of Exeter’s Horizon 2020 BlueHealth Programme.

Sea Sanctuary, We are Blue Health

EMILY GILFORD

Emily is a Zoology BSc (Hons) and Ecology MSc graduate from the University of Exeter, currently based in Cornwall. Her interests lie in animal behaviour and blue health. Over the past few years, Emily has managed The Beach Clean Project in Cornwall, connecting people over a mutual love of keeping our coastlines clean. Emily enjoys being out with her camera spotting wildlife and learning as much as she can. Emily is an online article editor and contributor here at Bloom in Doom. Find her on Instagram @emilygilford

Lifestyle & CultureViridis Magazine11 November 2020