Surfing Therapy Program Sees 40% Surge in Trauma Support Requests
Surfers Without Borders reports a 40% rise in requests as combat veterans and October 7 survivors seek trauma support. The group combines surfing with therapy to aid long-term recovery.
The Israeli non-profit organization “Surfers Without Borders,” which assists combatants, security personnel, survivors of the October 7 massacre and captivity in the Gaza Strip, and victims of hostilities dealing with trauma, reports a 40% surge in requests for assistance over the past year. Association representatives explain that the decrease in combat intensity and the return to routine often create space for processing experiences that were previously set aside.
According to Itay Axelrod, one of the founders of the association, during periods of prolonged military service and combat, many individuals remain focused on immediate tasks and operational duties. With the reduction in service and the return home, they begin to process what they have experienced and notice distress. “Anxiety, hypervigilance, and sleep disturbances do not necessarily vanish when moving away from the battlefield, and sometimes that is precisely when it becomes harder to understand why these feelings persist even as immediate danger subsides,” Axelrod notes.
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Through Surfing
For participants, returning home does not mark the end of their struggle. Post-traumatic symptoms such as sleep disorders, anxiety, hypervigilance, and feelings of detachment can accompany them into daily life, hindering their return to work, family life, and social interactions. Against this backdrop, “Surfers Without Borders” offers a continuous rehabilitation framework that combines wave surfing with personal mentoring, discussion circles, and activities aimed at strengthening mental resilience.
Activities take place year-round at several beaches across the country, featuring two to three weekly sessions. Each participant is paired with a volunteer surfing instructor to establish a consistent, supportive bond and enable progress at an individual pace. Rauma Arussi Trestiansky from Be'eri, mother of Gali who was released from captivity and Lior who was murdered on October 7, participates in the program and shares her experience: “Surfing helps me find inner strength again and feel more balanced and stable, both on the surfboard and in daily life. The group and the team welcomed me warmly and created a safe and supportive environment for me.”
Building Community and Long-Term Support
Participants measure their progress through everyday milestones: venturing out to leave the house, taking the initiative to renew connections, and eventually meeting up to surf outside official hours. Thus, the framework gradually evolves into a community, providing participants with ongoing contact and a dependable place to return to over time.
“For us, surfing is not the goal, but the tool,” Axelrod emphasizes. “The true objective is to restore a sense of security, belonging, and hope to people.” The association operates without rigid bureaucracy or expiration dates, ensuring that participants do not have to contend with complex paperwork or endure long waiting periods to receive essential support.
