A new report shows that OCT’s Blue Mind Hub is providing an Ocean-based boost to Plymouth’s mental health.
Are you feeling a little more downbeat today? You’re probably not the only one; today, the third Monday of January, is referred to as Blue Monday. With the highs of Christmas and New Year’s Eve now a distant memory, we all have to confront January’s grey drizzle and that back-to-work feeling. That’s why today is often cited as being the saddest day of the year.
But fret not! To bring a little cheer to a dreary time of the year, the Ocean Conservation Trust has some good news: we’re publishing our first impact report on programmes within the Blue Mind Hub—and findings from the report indicate significant boosts to mental health for those taking part.
Blue Mind Hub, which OCT launched in 2023, is an Ocean-based wellness project for people who live with poor mental health in the Plymouth community. Participants from all backgrounds had the opportunity to engage in a suite of fun experiences, raising awareness of the Ocean and its role in physical and mental wellbeing.
Three years after the launch of the Blue Mind Hub, the new report presents data and testimony that demonstrate the positive impacts that Ocean engagement has had on the overall wellbeing of the program’s participants.
“The report shows that the Ocean is a powerful tool that can be used to make a huge difference to people’s wellbeing,” said Ocean Engagement Manager, Freyja Thomson-Alberts. “Our Blue Mind Hub programme is designed to support people in finding their own meaningful connection to the Ocean, and it’s incredible to be able to see the positive impact it has left on our community here in Plymouth.”
The project draws inspiration from Blue Mind Theory, a term coined by the late Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, which describes the relationship between the Ocean and humans’ wellbeing. Research shows that individuals benefit physically, mentally, and spiritually from being in, on, or around the Ocean.
All sensory aspects of the Ocean can induce a calming effect, from the colour blue to the sound of the waves, which can reduce the levels of cortisol (a stress hormone). Looking at waves can also create a feeling of calm by changing brain wave frequency, triggering the parasympathetic nervous system which controls levels of restfulness. Additionally, blue spaces have been shown to have a positive influence on individuals’ physiology, from improving sleep to boosting the immune system.
Blue Mind Hub uses social prescribing to identify individuals most in need of support.All activities last around 5-8 weeks (one morning or afternoon per week) and include: ‘Step into Snorkelling,’ which helps people build the confidence to explore their local shores; ‘Blue Views,’ which is a coastal-based project offering Ocean activities that don’t involve getting in the water; and ‘Accessible Ocean,’ which is aimed at serving those identified as needing strengthened support.
According to the results of surveys completed by participants, seven individuals took part in an eight-week program during Blue Mind Hub’s pilot year (2023). 85% of those participants reported a positive impact on their wellbeing. By 2025, the number of participants across programs had increased to 34, and survey results show that 79% of them reported a significant boost in wellbeing.
In 2025, the OCT started working with Livewell Southwest at Plym Bridge House, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service provision, in the first of its Accessible Ocean programmes for young people. Plym Bridge House is a secure psychiatric unit that supports young people experiencing severe mental health problems. Eight participants took part in three weeks of Accessible Ocean sessions, which included: virtual reality and artefact handling sessions, rockpooling at Mount Batten Beach, visits to the National Marine Aquarium with behind-the-scenes experiences, and a boat trip around Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
According to the impact report, 88% of participants felt interacting with the Ocean was important for their wellbeing and 83% showed significant improvement in their wellbeing. One participant said the boat trip was “one of the best experiences of their life.” That young person has profound OCD and previously did not leave their home for over 12 months; they counted the experience as a significant step in their recovery journey.
All programmes are free to attend for participants due to funding provided by the OCT. And research indicates that the impact of nature-based solutions to health issues is cost-effective in comparison to other interventions. According to the National Academy for Social Prescribing, programmes like those offered through the Blue Mind Hub generate £2.42 in return for every £1 invested*, which highlights the role that a healthy Ocean can play in supporting local wellbeing services, and alleviating. pressure on an over-burdened NHS. The OCT continues to support participants who have taken part in our Blue Mind activities, funding additional wellbeing activities such as rockpooling, and signposting to our Blue Mind Community Garden
The full Blue Mind Hub Impact Report will be published later this month.
*National Academy of Social Prescribing (2026)2Green Social Prescribing. Available at: Green Social Prescribing – National Academy for Social Prescribing | NASP [Accessed 13/01/2026]