A new weekly group at Mount Maunganui – which encourages people to come along early Friday mornings in fluorescent clothing for a foray of activities – is all about soothing the soul.

One Wave Mount Maunganui creators Miriama Smith and Kaitlyn Gooch hope people will join them on Friday mornings talk about their mental illness. Photo by: Bruce Barnard.

One Wave Mount Maunganui has been launched by local ladies Kaitlyn Gooch and Miriama Smith, who've both been affected by mental illness, including losing family and friends to suicide.

Kaitlyn says the group's aim is for people to get together and realise that they are not alone.

'I guess it's about trying to get people out of their funk and realise that there are other people having a tough time, or other people that care about what they're going through.

'It's also making them see there are people at the group you can to talk about it properly – not just have someone say: ‘Oh, it's going to be okay'.”

The group meets Fridays from 6.45am-7.30am in front of Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesaving Club with attendees encouraged to come dressed in fluoro colours and participate in activities – and feel welcome to share their stories with others in an effort to encourage discussion, further releasing the stigma often associated with mental health.

The original concept came from former Tauranga man Grant Trebilco, who started the One Wave movement in Australia with the motto of one wave – of surfing – is all it takes to change your day.

The non-profit surf community across the ditch tackle ‘funks' like depression, anxiety and bipolar with a simple recipe; salt-water, surfing, good mates and Fluro Fridays.

The Mount group has taken on this philosophy by providing physical activities and starting or ending the session with a story about how someone has been affected by mental illness – either themselves, friends or family – to give people an opportunity to open up.

And while starting small, Kaitlyn says activities will continue during winter to suit the weather and next summer will mark the start of surfing opportunities – like Grant's Australian gatherings.

'Currently, if there's just a few of us we may walk round The Mount or do yoga – we try do different activities each week.”

And bootcamp-style activities are on the cards, with Kaitlyn a qualified yoga instructor and personal trainer.

'A bit of activity gets the endorphins going – and it's an opportunity to talk to people, see people you usually wouldn't see.”

'And fluoro also gets people asking questions – so you can start that conversation about mental health.”

For the group's updates, see the One Wave Mount Maunganui Facebook Page.