Mental Health Support
18 May 2021
People in West Sussex Mind t-shirts by Worthing Seafront Galler

A new photographic exhibition at Worthing's seafront gallery explores the rise of sea swimming during the pandemic, and how it has helped people cope with their mental health and wellbeing.

The exhibition, A Winter's Swim, was created by documentary and portrait photographer Jonathan Browning, winner of the 2019 Portrait of Britain Award.

His project focuses on some of the early morning swimmers who braved the cold sea over the winter of 2020/21. It "reimagines what it means to be social during a pandemic and presents a newfound sense of freedom, bravery, and joy."

The exhibition was launched on Monday, 17th May when some of the featured swimmers joined others from local sea swimming groups - including mentalhealthswims, Worthing Bluetits and Natural Born Swimmers - to take to the (rather large) waves. The mass dip was organised by West Sussex Mind as part of its Moving Minds anti-stigma campaign.

A Winter's Swim runs until October 2021. You can find Worthing's seafront gallery on the beach, just west of Worthing Lido. It is open all day, every day and entry is free. You can see more of Jonathan Browning's work on his website here

If you missed our recent blog about the benefits of cold water swimming for mental health, you can find it here.