Investigating the impact surf therapy has on the mental wellbeing of vulnerable young people.

Abstract

This study is to determine if surf therapy has an impact on the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable young people. It will explore surf therapy programmes and mental health within the young people population. The introduction will overview a broad understanding of how young people can be deemed as ‘vulnerable’ and mental health as a whole. This section will go on to an extended literature review where it looks into mental health and wellbeing within the young people population, physical activity and surf therapy, green space and blue space, and analyses if there are any gaps in the topic area. The aim, objectives and hypothesis are stated at the end of this section. Participants will be recruited through The Wave Project Scotland, using Qualitative research through a questionnaire to determine the impact on mental health. Participants will partake in a 6-week surf therapy programme and fill out a questionnaire pre and post the programme. The results will be analysed to see what impact surf therapy has on the participants mental wellbeing. In conclusion, potential barriers and future research are established in the discussion at the end of the study.