Winter Bathing in Denmark: A Qualitative Case Study on Winter Bathing’s Impact on Mental Health

What is it about?

WB enhanced mental health. Short time in the ice-cold water provided mental peace transferred to the rest of daily life. Positive emotions, inner calm and a sense of safety through WB . WB in a club also served as a space for social connectedness.

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Why is it important?

If we, health professionals, additional to treatment, whole-hearted want to assume co-responsibility for health promotion and prevention related to mental health and well-being, it is necessary to think innovatively and specifically according to activities transferable to the individual’s everyday life. Nature as well as blue nature evidently influences mental health and well-being positively, and in Denmark it is obvious to include blue nature because of the many aquatic environments consisting of more than 7000 km seaside and many lakes and rivers. It is also evident that physical activity influence mental health and well-being positively, and a growing body of evidence underlines, that activities in blue nature (areas with lake, river or sea) can bee especially important for social and mental health with positive impact on self-efficacy, social relations and mood.