SWIM
THROUGH
DARKNESS
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ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
What Is Swim Through Darkness?
Swim Through Darkness is a mental health awareness campaign focused on resilience, recognition and steady support. Each winter, Al Mennie undertakes a series of controlled, safety-planned night swims off the north coast of Ireland to highlight mental health struggles and encourage people to seek help when things feel difficult or unclear. The campaign does not offer therapy or crisis support and does not ask anyone to copy or imitate the swims.
Campaign History
Swim Through Darkness began in 2020, when Al Mennie completed 100km of controlled winter night swims between December 1st and March 1st. The idea was simple but powerful: we rarely overcome difficult periods in a single moment — we return to them again and again, chipping away slowly over time.
Since then, the campaign has continued each winter in different forms, depending on the time Al could give to it. In 2023, he added ‘Surf Through Darkness,’ riding 152 waves at night to highlight the number of daily suicides across Europe. In 2024, he became an ambassador for Pieta House’s ‘Darkness Into Light’ campaign. Despite the efforts of charities and the health service, suicide numbers continue to rise — including the 290 deaths recorded in Northern Ireland in 2024.
This year, alongside the swims, Al has created free reflective booklets designed to offer calm, grounding support during difficult moments. Inspired by the people he has met and the realities he has seen, these resources are free to download and share.
Aims of the Campaign
Swim Through Darkness aims to:
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raise awareness of depression, suicide and intergenerational trauma
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encourage people to recognise signs of struggle in themselves and others
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offer calm, reflective resources that may help people feel less alone
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direct people towards professional and charitable support
Important Safety Note
The sea, rivers and open water are dangerous. Nothing about this project is intended to encourage you to enter the water.
The swims carried out as part of this campaign are undertaken by an experienced waterman, with preparation, safety measures and support. They are not a template for others to follow.
If you are struggling, please seek help from qualified mental health professionals and recognised organisations. If you ever feel at immediate risk, contact your local emergency services right away.
ABOUT AL
Al Mennie is best known for his experience in big-wave surfing and long-distance ocean challenges. Over more than two decades he has spent thousands of hours in demanding sea conditions, training, planning and working with safety teams in some of the world’s heaviest surf.
He has previously raised funds for a range of charities, and has written books on anxiety, fear, confidence and the ocean. Swim Through Darkness brings together his knowledge of unpredictable environments and his commitment to mental health awareness.
Al’s aim with this campaign is simple:
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to help people recognise mental health struggles in themselves and others
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to encourage steady, realistic ways of moving through difficult periods
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to raise funds for mental health charities through his own efforts in the water.
If you’d like to read more about Al’s background and past projects, you can visit almennie.com
LATEST SWIMS
Here are some recent updates and reflections from the campaign. These posts describe Al’s own experience; they are not intended as guidance or encouragement to enter the water.
IF YOU NEED SUPPORT
If you’re finding things difficult, talking to someone can help. The organisations below offer information and support. They are independent from this project and are not affiliated with, endorsing, or collaborating with Swim Through Darkness or Al Mennie.
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Samaritans (UK & Ireland) – 24/7 listening support
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Call 116 123 • samaritans.org
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Lifeline (Northern Ireland) – crisis counselling and support
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Aware NI – depression and bipolar support, programmes and information
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aware-ni.org
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PIPS – suicide prevention and mental health support
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pipscharity.com
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Pieta – support for people in suicidal distress and those who self-harm
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pieta.ie
You can also speak to your GP or local health services for professional mental health support.
SUPPORT THE CHARITIES
Swim Through Darkness does not collect donations.
All contributions are made directly to the charities through their own secure platforms or through Justgiving on the Swim Through Darkness page.
If you’d like to support this year’s campaign, you can donate through the official JustGiving page. All funds go directly to the chosen mental health charities — not to the campaign or to Al.
→ Donate via JustGiving https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/al-mennie
You can also donate directly to the charities themselves:
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Aware NI – aware-ni.org
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PIPS – pipscharity.com
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Samaritans – samaritans.org
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Pieta – pieta.ie
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Thank you for supporting the organisations doing vital frontline work.