In the build-up to World Mental Health Day, a non-profit organisation is taking advantage of the therapeutic benefits of physical activity and time in the ocean by offering surf therapy to thousands of children from dozens of under-resourced communities.
Also read: Kind Heart Bench installed at Retreat train station to support mental health
Dedicated to providing mental health prevention and promotion services to children through the power of surfing, Waves for Change (W4C) is calling on the public to join them for their first ever and biggest public immersion session on Tuesday to raise awareness of mental health issues, especially for those with limited access to these services.
The aim of the session is to get as many participants as possible to join hands and take part in the session, which celebrates and promotes early intervention against chronic stress and trauma in vulnerable children through effective surf therapy and helpful mindfulness techniques.
Immersion is a technique to help children with toxic stress learn to manage their fears and anxiety. Immersion is also one of the first sessions that introduces participants to surf therapy.
During this session, participants learn about W4C’s culture to ‘respect, protect and communicate’ as they enter the water together and learn positive peer engagement through trust and listening to each other while learning to connect to their feelings and their body’s biofeedback.
‘Children who grow up in South African townships have an eight times greater exposure to traumatic events than children growing up in affluent areas,’ says Tim Conibear, co-founder of W4C.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Enjoy a silent disco zumba class on Muizenberg Beach for R125. Get it here.
‘Constant or prolonged exposure to trauma and adversity develops into toxic stress which has negative implications on a child’s development; they need urgent support to be able to overcome their circumstances.’
‘We need to find ways of making it easier for people to say “I’m not ok” and we need to find ways of making it easier for people to get the help that they need when they’re at their most vulnerable,’ he adds.
The 2023 global theme for World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental Health is a Universal Right’ to promote universal access to focused health support.
W4C began in 2009 as a small, informal weekend surf club for a handful of children from Masiphumelele in Cape Town and registered as an NPO and public benefit organisation in 2011.
‘It was evident that children were coming because they felt safe, heard, and connected,’ says Conibear. ‘Since then, W4C has developed a solid scientific evidence base for surf therapy as a low cost, feasible way of supporting children experiencing toxic stress.’
Every year, W4C reaches 2 500 children and adolescents through surf therapy. Each one of the children who participates weekly is referred by either a school, social worker, the Western Cape Department of Education or local hospitals, serving children across 43 under-resourced communities in Cape Town, such as Khayelitsha, the Cape Flats and Hout Bay. W4C also operates in Gqebera and East London, where access to mental health services is extremely limited.
Looking for a deal on a car, but tight on a budget? Have a look at these offers for under R100 000. View the deals here.
W4C Beach Hubs and trained community surf coaches create a safe space where vulnerable children are referred to find belonging, learn new skills, build confidence and create positive behaviours towards mental wellness. Research shows that it takes eight weeks for children’s central nervous systems to settle when they attend weekly, but for the benefits to be realised, they need a longer-term service that aligns with the school terms.
‘I thought Waves for Change was about surfing, not knowing it’s a life changing opportunity. It isn’t about the kids only, it’s about everyone – coaches, kids, and bringing back to the community,’ says Zilungile, a youth coach at W4C who himself went through the programme and will be taking part in the session on Tuesday 10 October.
For more information visit the Waves for Change website.
Also read:
The Cape Town Kite Festival will paint the sky for mental health awareness
Pictures: Supplied