SWIMMERS took to the sea on New Year's Day as part of a campaign to encourage more people to embrace holistic therapies for mental health issues.

Amy Moule from Ringwood set up the group Swimming Against Depression in a bid to raise awareness of mental health issues and fundraise for a health centre by the sea.

The mother-of-two suffered severe depression for more than a year, undergoing various gruelling treatments but with little success.

Now, with the help of holistic therapies and counselling, she is back on track and wants to reach out to others to raise awareness of therapies that don't require conventional medication.

And as part of that message, Amy organised a New Year's Day swim at Avon Beach in Mudeford, where she was joined by friends, family and others from Swimming Against Depression.

She said: "I have always swam in the sea but I had a severe bout of depression from June 2015 until July 2016.

"I was given electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as well as lots of other medications and nothing was working, in fact it made me feel worse.

"I had all the side effects of the drugs, but without any of the benefits.

"The type of therapy I needed was a long way off due to a waiting list. The support was just not there."

Amy added: "Once I was off the medication I started swimming every day and since September, I made a decision to continue that and have been around four times a week.

"It really is remarkable how much difference it can make."

Amy is fundraising for £50,000 to start a natural health centre by the sea in Christchurch offering holistic and alternative treatments, classes, nutrition advice and warm changing spaces and showers.

"I want others to be able to experience these methods and therapies as they have been my lifeline in dealing with my mental health issues", Amy said.

"The cold water swimming is part of it, but there is so much you can do and I want to help people realise that."

To donate to the fund, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/amy-moule-1