“No matter what my state was before I’d get in the sea, I’d always feel calm, happy and relaxed afterwards.”

Growing up in Cornwall, Megan always loved the sea and found nature very healing. It wasn’t until she joined The Wave Project during a period of serious mental health struggles that she realised quite how transformative it could be.

Megan spent a few years in and out of hospitals as she struggled with her mental health, which also had an impact on her physical health. It was during this time that she was referred to The Wave Project, a Comic Relief funded partner that uses Surf Therapy and the healing power of the ocean to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people. “When I first started The Wave Project, I would struggle to even leave my room as my anxiety was so high. Getting into a car and driving to the beach was a big thing on its own.”

Megan started a six-week Surf Therapy course where she was paired up with a 1-1 mentor. “Everyone there was really kind and friendly, and they take everything at your pace. The other families there are also lovely because everyone’s in the same bubble. It’s just a really relaxed way to help people. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t enjoyed it.”

“I don’t think I ever left a session without a smile on my face. I always loved the sea. No matter what my state was before I’d get in the sea, I’d always feel calm, happy and relaxed afterwards.”

Megan’s mum Rachel watched this transformation happen from the beach. “Where she was when she first went to Surf Therapy, she was really struggling. I didn’t even think we were going to get her to Surf Therapy. Seeing your child struggle like that, it’s heartbreaking. But over time, I saw the difference in her confidence, self-esteem, in the way she felt about herself. I think it enabled Megs to take on new challenges around getting better and gave her a reason and purpose to as well.”

When Megan was unwell, she couldn’t always go to school and felt disconnected from her friends. “I was withdrawn from society before. The Wave Project was a really nice way to integrate back into society again, make friends. It felt more doable because you’re all surfing and everyone’s in the same boat, so you can relate a lot.”

After finishing the six-week Surf Therapy course, Megan joined The Wave Project’s Surf Club and has continued sessions with them for nearly three years. “I just became a lot happier. I felt a lot better in myself. I felt like I’d found something that really made a positive impact on my life.”

The Surf Club is open to anyone who has completed the Surf Therapy course and provides a supportive environment for young people to continue to grow, both on the waves and in their personal lives. Rachel describes, “Meg was really keen to get into Surf Club afterwards and I think it was there that she became part of a community of other surfers that also struggled.”

Having built up her confidence and self-esteem, and with the support of the other volunteers at The Wave Project, Megan recently began volunteering as a peer mentor herself and now helps other young people through Surf Therapy. “Volunteering has been really good. It helped build my confidence more because I’m not the best at speaking to new people. I knew I had to be confident, to help other people feel confident. It’s like a fake it until you make it, and then you just do become confident.”

“Looking back, it’s amazing how far I’ve come. Even though everything was bad for quite a lot of years, it is looking really positive now. I’m completely out of all services. I’m just genuinely very happy living and loving life.”

Since joining The Wave Project, Megan gained the confidence to join other local groups for climbing, music and outdoor activities, and has made friends she describes as “my people”. She also bravely went back to school after a period of time off and has just completed her first year of Animal Care at college.

“I feel very proud. There’s still days and weeks where things are difficult, but I have a lot of ways I know I can make myself feel a bit better. I tend to just take life a day at a time or a week at a time and then see what happens and just have fun along the way.”