Swimming out of darkness. Going into the blue helps beat pandemic blues in Brazil

Record ID: 1639055

  • Title: Swimming out of darkness. Going into the blue helps beat pandemic blues in Brazil
  • Date: 28th September 2021
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT - 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SWIMMING IN THE OPEN WATER OF COPACABANA BEACH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEMBER OF GROUP THAT ACCOMPANIES SWIMMERS IN OPEN WATER, BERNARDO TILLMANN, SAYING: "There are many people who are depressed, who are scared to say they are suffering from it. Talking about mental health is a taboo and when you come here (to the open water) we help everyone that arrives." PEOPLE WALKING TO SHORE FROM SURF PEOPLE ON BEACH, PAN TO OCEAN (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SWIMMER AND UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, AMANDA BRANDAO, SAYING: "I started to develop labyrinthitis because of stress last year. I already had some treatment but it didn't work, it was only palliative. So I decided to start swimming because a friend recommended it to me and it has since changed my life." SWIMMERS AMID BREAKING WAVES REUTERS INTERVIEW WITH CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, GABRIELA ABRITTA, SAYING: "Now that people are freer, post-vaccine, people are starting to feel what happened, the consequences of which are being seen now. Depression, anxiety, what happened, what didn't happen. I see that sports makes the difference." PEOPLE SWIMMING IN OPEN WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SWIMMER AND LOCAL MEDIC, GUILLERMO RODRIGUES, SAYING: "To practise sports in the open air, in a team together with other people is very important, beneficial for mental health. There's a feeling that life is returning to normal, but not without looking after ourselves." PEOPLE AT SHORE SWIMMERS IN OPEN WATER SWIMMERS AT SHORE WITH SUN SETTING IN THE BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2021 22:47
  • Keywords: Brazil Rio de Janeiro health mental health swimming
  • Location: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
  • City: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Health/Medicine,South America / Central America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EWRUGXZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Go into the blue to beat the pandemic blues, that is what some experts in Rio de Janeiro recommend to lift local spirits in COVID times.
    Before the Covid-19 pandemic the famous Copacabana beach attracted millions of tourists and swimmers each year - now its waves give cold comfort to residents dealing with the grind of daily life.
    Bernardo Tillmann is a member of a group that accompanies swimmers into the open water.
    He said that many people who suffer depression are still scared to say that they are suffering from it, and that the ocean is a great help.
    "Talking about mental health is a taboo and when you come to the open water we help everyone that arrives," he said.
    Brazil was particularly hard hit during the coronavirus pandemic, with some 600.000 deaths.
    But as the country slowly lifts its COVID-19 restrictions, many are still left to deal with the anguish of coronavirus.
    University professor Armanda Brandao suffered a stress-related illness during the pandemic.
    Swimming in Copacabana's cold waves has helped her health.
    "I already had some treatment but it didn't work," she said. "So I decided to start swimming because a friend recommended it to me and it has since changed my life".
    Experts believe that swimming in cold water not only provides cardiovascular benefits but it also releases endorphins into the brain, giving us a feeling of euphoria.
    "Now that people are freer, post-vaccine, people are starting to feel what happened," said Gabriela Abritta, clinical psychologist. "I see that sports make the difference".
    Another swimmer that profits from 'Vitamin Sea' is local doctor Guillermo Rodrigues. "There's a feeling that life is returning to normal, but not without looking after ourselves," he said.
    (Production: Sebastian Rocandio, Paul Vieira, Eva Weininger)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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