We renew our alliance with Fluidra to investigate the benefits of aquatic activity for mental health
The agreement, which will run until 2027, extends the cooperation begun in 2021 and will make it possible for research to continue for a further three years within the framework of the study "Sport and mental health. Sports activities in swimming pools as a tool for social inclusion"
In this new stage, the sample will be increased to 350 beneficiaries with severe mental disorders and depression
The programme will carry out pioneering initiatives to evaluate the combined impact of exercise in water and Metacognitive Training (MCT) on people with depression
The Fluidra Foundation, Fluidra, Obra Social Sant Joan de Déu and Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu have renewed their agreement to continue researching the benefits for mental health of physical activity in water. The agreement, which extends until 2027, continues the alliance established in 2021 and seeks to expand the scope of the project “Sport and mental health. Sports activities in swimming pools as a tool for social inclusion". The study, the first stage of which was completed in 2023, has demonstrated the positive impact of sport in swimming pools on the quality of life of people with different mental health disorders.
In this new stage, the programme, which also has the support of the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, aims to strengthen scientific research with new clinical trials, increase the number of direct beneficiaries and promote the inclusion of sport in swimming pools as a therapeutic tool within the healthcare network.
According to Xavi Servat, manager of the Fluidra Foundation, “It has been shown that exercising in water not only contributes to fitness, but also has a positive effect on self-esteem, emotional well-being and social integration. With this renewal, we want to consolidate a treatment model based on scientific evidence and contribute to improving the mental health of the most vulnerable through innovative and accessible therapies."
For her part, Susana Ochoa, Coordinator of the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu Research Unit, explains that “The study shows that doing activities in the community and with the community encourages participation in society, which significantly improves the perception of self-stigma, depression and quality of life. It also shows that combining physical activity with psychological treatment allows us to offer even more personalised attention."
Larger sample and new lines of research
The programme is contributing to the growing evidence of the effects of physical exercise on mental health and responds to the need to offer innovative therapeutic alternatives for people with mental disorders. During the first phase of the study, more than 200 people participated in aquatic activities designed to improve their emotional well-being, self-esteem and ability to relate. The experience confirmed that taking part in water sports not only helps to combat the symptoms of depression, but also facilitates social integration and reduces the stigma associated with mental disorders. According to Muhammad Afzal, a user of the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu Mental Health Network and a beneficiary of aquatic activities: “When I started, I was isolated at home, I didn't do anything, I didn't talk to anyone... Coming here gives me life. I feel very good, happy and relaxed."
Based on these results, the new phase of the project will increase the study sample to 350 direct beneficiaries, including people with intellectual disabilities, severe mental disorders and depression, treated in the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu Mental Health Network. As Susana Ochoa, Coordinator of the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu Research Unit, points out, “With this new extension of the alliance and the grant from the Ministry of Health's Health Research Fund (FIS), we will be able to include twelve health centres in different parts of Spain in the study, thus extending its scope to towns in Seville, Santander and Mallorca, among other locations."
One of the most innovative aspects of this new stage consists of a pioneering study that will evaluate the combined impact of aquatic exercise and Metacognitive Training (MCT) on people with depression. This clinical trial, which will also analyse gender differences in the effectiveness of the activity, seeks to determine whether the combination of physical activity in water with specific psychological strategies can enhance therapeutic benefits.
Commitment to a social inclusion model
Another fundamental pillar of the project will continue to be guaranteeing equitable access to physical activity in water for people with mental health problems. The programme, which takes place in a network of municipal sports centres in Barcelona, includes different types of activity depending on users' degree of autonomy, including group sessions, mixed activities with the community and free access to swimming pools with support to provide continuity. To eliminate financial barriers, the project offers aid for the purchase of sports equipment and transport.
The impact of the programme also extends to professionals in the fields of health, sports and social action, who will have new tools and scientific data to recommend water sports in the treatment of mental health.
For the implementation of the study until 2027, an investment of 260,000 euros is planned, to be allocated to activities in swimming pools, research, and analysis of the data obtained.
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