By Hollie Harris
One Wave are committed to bringing awareness to all forms of mental challenges and have launched an inspiring and effective program combining the healing benefits of surfing with recovery.
In addition to the regular weekly Fluro Friday surfing sessions, where members of the community dress in fluro gear and hit the waves to raise awareness about the stigma surrounding mental illnesses, One Wave has now launched a surf program for sufferers of mental illness.
Founder Joel Pilgrim created the organisation with a view to combating mental illness by using ocean therapy and believes that learning to surf in a group setting has invaluable benefits.
Joel is also a mental health manager and an occupational therapist who is passsionate about the new learning to surf program launched in Noosa this week, which has been highly successful already in Bondi, Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
The eight-week program is designed for people who are struggling with their mental health and are ready to take that step into an environment which offers support, knowledge and tools for recovery.
The program has demonstrated that learning to surf provides effective tools and benefits to those suffering from all forms of mental challenges and that bringing people together into a group setting creates a much-needed sense of community to people who may be feeling isolated.
The group meets every Wednesday morning and the goal is to learn new strategies to cope and work through the challenges and rocky moments with a supportive network behind you, while having fun and gaining confidence.
Surfboards are provided and enrolments into the course may be organised by emailing Joel or Kelly at joel@onewaveisallittakes.com or kelly@onewaveisallittakes.com
There are only a couple of places left in the program, so reach out and catch that wave or, if you would prefer to jump in on the Fluro Fridays to raise awareness, head on down to First Point each Friday. All members of the community are welcome on Fridays.
One Wave is making a real difference to the growing population of those suffering from mental challenges and they really need support from the community. If you would like to sponsor the group in any way (they desperately need a new van to transport all the boards), email the organisers and help keep this inspiring program running.
