Love of surfing helps tackle mental health challenges
A Mount Maunganui man who battled mental health challenges
for years has used his love of surfi ng to help others overcome
their own struggles.
Grant Trebilco used his passion for riding waves to “get the stoke back”, and
he says others can do the same.
“The ocean was also the fi rst place I told my
friends about having bipolar. The support and
understanding they showed me was unreal and I
will never forget it. This was the inspiration behind
launching OneWave. I wanted to give more people
“Wearing bright colours makes people happy and
helps start conversations about an invisible issue,”
says Grant. In the six years since its inception,
OneWave has gone global and Fluro Fridays have
been held on over 200 beaches worldwide.
“After years of battling mental health challenges
without seeking treatment, I was hospitalized in
2012 and diagnosed with bipolar disorder after
a manic episode,” says the former Tauranga
Boys College student. “When I was released from
hospital, the ocean, surfi ng and good people were
my saviour during some tough times.”
Explore your Way to Wellbeing - Whāia te ara
hauora, Whitiora is the theme for this year’s
Mental Health Awareness Week. As part of
exploring ways to wellbeing, Tauranga will be
hosting its very own Fluro Fest on Sunday 29
September at Tay Street Beach Reserve, Mt
Maunganui, from 1-4pm.
Grant’s family moved from Tauranga to Mount
Maunganui when he was in his late teens and
he says, even though he moved to Australia eight
years ago, the Mount will always be ‘home’. He
returns whenever he can to be with family and
friends.
Grant Trebilco tackles the surf in his Fluro Friday gear (Credit @SHANNONGLASSON).
Grant has surfed most of his life, but it was
during the six months following his hospitalisation
the chance to ride waves and openly talk about
he really discovered that sometimes one wave is all it takes.
mental health without being judged.”
“The one place where I could get away from it all was getting in the ocean
So one Friday morning, in 2013, Grant decided
and going surfi ng with my family and my mates,” says the 38-year-old. “I
to dress up in a shirt and tie and go surfi ng solo at
remember getting this one good wave and I actually started smiling again, like
Australia’s Bondi Beach to try and spark conversations
really smiling and fi nally I didn’t feel numb anymore. That gave me hope that
about mental health. OneWave was born and Grant
things could get better. It made me realise that day by day, surf by surf, you
had simultaneously launched Fluro Fridays.
could get the stoke back.
From the Chair
By now you would have received
your voting papers for next month’s
District Health Board election.
This is an opportunity for you to
have a say on the people who will
be elected to the Bay of Plenty
District Health Board and be
responsible for overseeing the
delivery of health and disability
services in our communities.
Twenty one people are standing for
7 positions, elected ‘at large’ from
the Board area which comprises the
areas of the respective city/district
councils (Kawerau District Council,
Ōpōtiki District Council, Tauranga City
Council, Western Bay of Plenty District
Council and Whakatāne District
Council). You can read the candidates
profi les in the next few pages and I
encourage you to do so.
You now have about two weeks to fi ll
in the forms and return them, voting
closes on 12 October. I encourage
you to take this opportunity and make
sure your vote counts. As you know
the DHB elections are held at the
same time as local body elections.
However the voting format differs,
make sure you’re not caught out by
this.
The DHB uses the single
transferable voting (STV) electoral
system. You need to number the
candidates you want to vote for in the
order of your preference, do not tick.
awareness of mental health through saltwater
therapy, surfi ng and fl uro. Fluro Fridays consist
of surfi ng, free yoga and an ‘anti-bad vibes
circle’ allowing people to share stories in a safer
environment.
Sally Webb, Chair Bay of
Plenty District Health Board
You can vote for as many or as few
candidates as you like.
In addition, following the election,
the Minister of Health appoints a
further 4 members, making a total of
11 members per board. After three
terms covering nine years of chairing
the Board, I’m retiring. So there will
be a new Chair appointed by the
Minister at that time.
We need you to vote. So please
take the time to read the candidate
information and fi ll in your voting
papers – Have your say and get the
people you want on the Board.
And remember, when voting think
number, don’t tick.
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in
the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!
Arohanui Sally Webb
OneWave is a non-profi t surf community raising
The free event includes Tauranga Samba Band,
3D sand artist Jamie Harkins, music, volleyball,
beach tennis, giant jenga, happy bus, treasure dig
and more.
Aside from Mental Health Awareness Week,
the Mount Manganui OneWave group meets
at Tay Street each Friday from 5pm. All are
welcome to join them. You can fi nd out more
by connecting with the group on Facebook
‘OneWave - Mount Maunganui’ or Instagram @
onewavemountmaunganui
Grant’s top six mental health tips to
help “free the funk”
1. Be kind to yourself – It’s totally ok not to be
ok. If you’re just not feeling it, don’t beat yourself
up about not wanting to be around people. Don’t
be afraid to take a mental health day from work if
you need it and sometimes a good nap can help
so much.
2. Talk it out – we put so much pressure on
ourselves and when we are stuck in a funk
we can quickly get caught up in the negative
thoughts going on inside our head. If you’re beat-
ing yourself up about something make sure you
tell someone about what you’re feeling, because
it makes it that little bit easier getting it out of
your head.
3. Get a check up from the neck up - head to
your local doctor to get a mental health check
and work out what professional support you need
to help get the stoke back. Putting my hand up
and talking to a doctor for the fi rst time was the
hardest, but best thing I have ever done.
4. Surround yourself with good people - Sur-
round yourself with friends and family who let
Fluro Fest
Explore your way to wellbeing
1-4pm Sunday 29th September
Tay Street Beach Reserve
tion
Tauranga Samba Band
Jamie Harkins
- 3d Sand artist
Happy Bus
you know that it’s totally ok not to be ok and who
have your back no matter what.
5. Find your community – when you are facing
mental health challenges getting out of bed is
so damn hard. If you have a community of good
people to hang out with whether it’s to go fl uro
surfi ng with, go for a walk or to the gym, it gives
you a reason to get out of bed and once you’re up
you never regret it and makes the day that little
bit easier.
6. Do more things that help you free the funk
– What’s the thing you do that helps you free the
funk and get your smile back? For me it’s surfi ng,
but I think everyone has their surfi ng whether it’s
music, yoga, running… When you are struggling a
bit, think of what you were doing the last time you
were happy and go and do that as soon as you
can and see how it makes you feel.
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any � me
for support from a trained counsellor :
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free
text 4357 (HELP)
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865
(0508 TAUTOKO)
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email
[email protected] or online chat
BOPDHB Mental Health Crisis team, Tauranga
0800 800 508, Whakatāne 0800 774 545