IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
During these uncertain times it’s particularly hard to maintain a healthy mind and connection with others. Many people across the globe have witnessed isolation and mental health challenges with constant waves of anxiety, stress, and grief.
COVID-19 regulations have limited our access during this crucial time to the three common mental health needs: community support, nature access, and physical exercise. Surfing and safe supported access to the ocean have been so necessary, more than ever! As the pandemic continues, so too does the impact on people’s mental health.
Surfing is like medicine for the mind, body and soul. It can be so powerful and can help many people struggling with their mental health. However in many countries equal beach access is still forbidden due to COVID-19. The pandemic’s and racial injustice’s related traumas need to be witnessed and responded to TODAY as the world keeps facing these unknowns. If not now, when?
Non-profit organization Groundswell Community Project is currently working with local governments in California to propose specialized permits for mental health programs to access beaches in the San Diego area. Groundswell Community Project is a surf therapy organization helping women overcome various forms of trauma, anxiety, depression or low self-esteem. As a member of the International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO) it advocates for community-based self-care practices through surfing, sea love and sisterhood.
For Groundswell participants surf therapy is absolutely crucial and its absence can be damaging for those who use time by the water as part of their holistic treatment and their recovery. “Trauma occurs when someone has the experience of something being taken from them without their consent...COVID regulations have taken away without our consent community, nature, and the tools these two things give us to support our mental health....we are all in a traumatized state.” says Tracey Chester Trauma and Pain Therapy Specialist.
Allowing mental health permits seems like the right answer and a great step towards giving access to a natural environment like the ocean to those who are struggling on a daily basis. Surf therapy sessions would be held with 5-7 participants per group and COVID safety guidelines would be of course followed at the beach - supported by Olympic team Doctor Dr Rodriguez and author of the COVID protocols for athletics.
Healing truly happens in waves. Since Groundswell programs have begun - in the United States but also in Cuba, Scotland and Peru, waves of major changes have been experienced by the women participating. They even report being able to replace their psy meds with doses of surfing! Groundswell facilitators and licensed-therapists along with fellow surf sister participants have received the mental health boost and confidence needed to find healing and recovery by the ocean, while discovering the joy of surfing.
When asked what she has gotten out of the programs delivered by the team of Groundswell licensed therapists, one 2019 participant said “I learned that I am appreciated. That I have so much in common with every single surf sister. And that the ocean unites us and heals us despite our different backgrounds and paths”.
Groundswell Community Project founder Natalie Small says “There’s nothing more powerful than a community coming together during a crisis. We’re grateful to our local officials for their support and understanding of the mental health crisis during COVID and how now more than ever mental health must be addressed when we face so many unknowns about our future.”
Conversations with local governments are still ongoing to authorize permits at city and state level in California. At the end of June, Pacifica, south of San Francisco, led the way with an equal access permit to support surf therapy nonprofits (Brown Girl Surf and City Surf Project) providing surf access for BIPOC and underprivileged communities.
As we haven’t really measured yet how COVID-19 fully impacts our mental health on the long term, there is one thing that we are aware of. Right now, the world needs more party waves and less isolation keeping us away from the ocean and the outdoors’ therapeutic benefits. If not now, when?
Text by Marie Nicolas
Photography by Groundswell Community Project / Judith Baños
Shot over consecutive mornings during the long, recent run of North Coast autumn swell, In the Family of Things is Dave Rastovich in his element, doing his thing.