Some of the major public health challenges in high-income countries are mental health disorders and a lack of physical activity, which may exacerbate individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and some cancers (White et al., 2020). In Denmark, mental health disorders (e.g., stress, anxiety, and depression) account for 25% of the collective health problems (e.g., cancer 17% and cardiovascular disease 15%)(Pyskiatrifonden, 2018). Also, in 2017, 13% of Danes report that they have poor mental health, which is an increase by 3.2 percentage points since 2010 (Sundhedsstyrelsen, 2018). Hence, there is a need for increased focus on how to support people with poor mental health or mental health disorders in Denmark. The current research project assesses the impact and influence of an ongoing effort carried out by the Danish Surf and Rafting Federation (DSRF) to support mental health.

The project Fri på Vandet (Free on the Water) is a lifestyle intervention (i.e., non-clinical intervention) carried out by the DSRF. The intervention is an intentional exposure to blue spaces (e.g., rivers, canals, lakes, dammed lakes, and coastal environments)(White et al., 2020). Blue spaces are generally defined as all visible outdoor surface waters (White et al., 2016), excluding outdoor pools, garden ponds, and fountains. There is much natural overlap between green spaces and blue spaces (Britton et al., 2020), yet, research hypothesise that blue spaces offer a different sensory experience, are used in different ways, and have different outcomes. 

The purpose of the research is, therefore, to examine the effects and influence of a SUP and surfing lifestyle intervention on meaning in sport, connectedness to nature, mental health (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression) and mental wellbeing (i.e., thriving).