Over the past year, so many people have struggled with their mental health, many of us included. The Salty Sisters of Porthleven have found that outdoor swimming has been an incredible way to improve and maintain positive mental health and to cope with challenging times and we want to use our swimming to help give something back to others who might be struggling.

At least 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England. The overall number of people reporting mental health problems has been going up in recent years and we hope to raise money and awareness.

We also intend to donate ten percent of whatever we raise to the Porthleven Fisherman's Association, to support them in looking after the harbour where we all swim so much and to give a little back to the industry so integral to our local community.

To raise money, we aim to swim laps to a combined distance of 46 miles - the distance from Porthleven to the Isles of Scilly! We smashed our last goal of swimming laps to complete the distance of the channel and decided we needed a bigger goal!

Please support us by donating to our cause!

If you're struggling, details of how Mind can help can be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/

If you know someone who is struggling, listen to them. If you want to feel more confident talking to people who you think may be in danger, learn the Samaritans' simple SHUSH listening technique :

🔵 Show you care: Give the person your full attention.

🔵 Have patience: It may take time for someone to open up. Wait.

🔵 Use open questions that ask for more than a yes/no answer.

🔵 Say it back: repeat back what someone has said to check you’ve understood.

🔵 Have courage: don’t be put off by a negative response and, most importantly, don’t feel you have to fill a silence.

For emotional support you can:

📞 call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123