Report on Surf Therapy and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

An innovative therapeutic modality, known as surf therapy, is being utilized to address a range of mental health challenges. This report examines the “Ride the Tide” program, a case study in surf therapy, and analyzes its significant contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The program demonstrates a holistic approach by integrating physical activity, nature, and community support to improve mental health outcomes.

Program Overview: The “Ride the Tide” Initiative

Founded by Gina Jurlando, the “Ride the Tide” program provides a unique therapeutic environment that leverages the calming and challenging nature of surfing. It is designed to supplement traditional therapy by offering an alternative modality for individuals who may not respond to talk-based approaches alone. The program’s sessions are structured to provide comprehensive support.

• Land Component: Sessions begin on land with activities including art, group discussions, and a yoga-like warmup to prepare participants mentally and physically.
• Water Component: The core of the session involves surfing, guided by facilitators to ensure a safe and supportive experience on the waves.

The initiative is structured to assist a diverse demographic facing mental health struggles, thereby contributing to inclusive health solutions as outlined in the SDGs.

1. Individuals with anxiety and depression.
2. Sufferers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
3. Women who have experienced sexual trauma.
4. Children who have experienced loss.

Contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The “Ride the Tide” program directly supports SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Specifically, it aligns with Target 3.4, which seeks to promote mental health and well-being.

• Promotion of Mental Health: The program provides a “safe space” for participants, fostering a non-judgmental community that helps individuals overcome challenges like depression and social isolation. Participant testimonials confirm outcomes of “mental clarity” and a feeling of calm that “washes away” other emotions.
• Evidence-Based Benefits: While noted as a supplementary treatment, research supports the program’s methodology. Being in and around water, or “blue spaces,” is shown to yield positive changes in social connectedness and reduce depressive symptoms.
• Holistic Self-Care: Participants report that the positive effects extend beyond the session, improving their relationships and work life, positioning the therapy as a vital component of “healthy self care.”

Supporting Additional Sustainable Development Goals

Beyond its primary impact on SDG 3, the program’s model contributes to several other interconnected SDGs, highlighting its role in fostering a more sustainable and equitable society.

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): By offering specialized support for women who have experienced sexual trauma, the program contributes to Target 5.2 (eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls) by aiding in the recovery and empowerment of survivors.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The program utilizes a sliding scale of fees, including pay-what-you-can options. This model directly addresses Target 10.2 by promoting social and economic inclusion and ensuring that access to mental health care is not determined by financial status.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The program transforms public beaches into safe, inclusive, and accessible therapeutic spaces. This aligns with Target 11.7, which advocates for such public spaces that foster community well-being and social cohesion.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): By demonstrating the profound therapeutic benefits of marine environments, the program implicitly highlights the importance of protecting and conserving coastal and marine ecosystems for human health and well-being.

Operational Framework and Participant Outcomes

To ensure efficacy and safety, all sessions are staffed by a team of mental health practitioners, trained surf therapy facilitators, and safety volunteers. The program operates in Rockaway, New York, and Asbury Park, New Jersey. The reported outcomes from participants underscore the program’s success in advancing well-being.

• A profound sense of peace and feeling “one with” the water.
• A noticeable shift towards calmness, described as “a switch that turns on.”
• The development of a supportive, non-judgmental community.
• Lasting positive impacts that carry over into daily life, relationships, and work.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

Detailed Analysis

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s central theme is the “Ride the Tide” surf therapy program, which directly addresses mental health and well-being. It focuses on alternative treatments for conditions like “anxiety and depression, PTSD, women who’ve experienced sexual trauma, and even children who’ve experienced loss.” Participants’ testimonials confirm the positive impact on their mental state, with one saying, “I really had this, like, mental, like, clarity that I hadn’t had in a very long time,” and another noting, “At the end of the session, I feel like just more calm.”
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article highlights the program’s effort to be financially inclusive, thereby reducing economic inequalities in access to mental health care. It states that “Ride the Tide has… a sliding scale of fees ranging from pay-what-you-can to $75 for a private, two-hour session.” This model ensures that individuals from different economic backgrounds can access the therapeutic service.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The program fosters an inclusive and safe community space, which is a key aspect of this goal. The article describes the sessions as taking place in a “safe space in a community that’s not judgmental.” By utilizing public beaches in “Rockaway and Asbury Park, New Jersey,” the program promotes the use of public spaces for community health and social cohesion.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Detailed Analysis

1. Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being
   • This target aims to “reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article directly aligns with this by showcasing a program designed to “promote mental health and well-being.” The therapy helps people who “struggle with depression” and provides them with “healthy self care, which, you know, doesn’t get talked about enough.”
2. Target 10.2: Promote universal social and economic inclusion
   • This target seeks to “empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.” The “Ride the Tide” program contributes to this target by implementing a “sliding scale of fees” and a “pay-what-you-can” option, which promotes economic inclusion by making mental health support accessible regardless of a person’s financial situation.
3. Target 11.7: Provide access to safe and inclusive public spaces
   • This target is to “provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.” The surf therapy program uses public beaches as its venue and is explicitly described as a “safe space” and a “community that’s not judgmental.” It provides a structured, safe, and inclusive activity in a public setting, particularly for vulnerable groups mentioned, such as “women who’ve experienced sexual trauma.”

Relevant Indicators for Measuring Progress

Detailed Analysis

1. Indicators for Target 3.4 (Promote mental health and well-being)
   • Qualitative reports of improved mental well-being: The article provides direct evidence through participant testimonials. Statements like, “I really had this, like, mental, like, clarity,” “it just kind of helps wash away… all these other emotions,” and feeling “more calm” serve as qualitative indicators of the program’s success in promoting well-being.
   • Reduction in depressive symptoms: The article references research supporting that being in water provides “positive changes in… depressive symptoms.” A participant who struggles with depression states, “I don’t always get a chance to get out the door, right? I feel like it’s in a safe space.” This implies the program helps manage these symptoms.
2. Indicators for Target 10.2 (Promote universal social and economic inclusion)
   • Availability of subsidized or affordable services: The article explicitly mentions the program’s fee structure as an indicator of economic inclusion: “a sliding scale of fees ranging from pay-what-you-can to $75.” This is a direct measure of the effort to reduce economic barriers.
3. Indicators for Target 11.7 (Provide access to safe and inclusive public spaces)
   • Participant perception of safety and inclusivity: The article implies this indicator through participant feedback. Describing the environment as a “safe space” and “a community that’s not judgmental” directly measures the perceived inclusivity of the program within the public space.
   • Use of public space for community health programs: The existence of the “Ride the Tide” program itself, operating on public beaches in “Rockaway and Asbury Park,” is an indicator that these public spaces are being utilized for health and well-being initiatives.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com