51. Surfing Through Life: Riding the Waves of Mental Health Awareness | Cooper Chapman

Dr Espen Podcast

Check our upcoming events: https://bit.ly/3whDgVo Tweetable quote from Cooper “Be kind to your mind, be kind to others, and be kind to the environment.” Summary In this episode, Dr Espen is joined by professional surfer and mental health advocate Cooper Chapman who opens up about his journey and insights on mental health. He talks about the daily rituals that keep him grounded and the concept of "flow state" in surfing. Cooper also shares how his family's history has shaped his understanding of mental illness. Dr Espen steers the conversation, emphasizing mindfulness and proactive mental health practices. They discuss the difference between mental health and mental illness, promoting daily habits for well-being and the importance of staying present in life. 💡Episode Highlights: 00:00:00 - Episode trailer 00:01:08 - The neuroscience behind flow state and its relation to surfing 00:02:42 - Cooper’s journey in surfing and mental health 00:05:59 - How surfing helps achieve a flow state 00:08:37 - Highlight of Cooper's career 00:13:48 - Mental Health vs. Mental Illness 00:17:43 - Understanding Self-Worth as a pro surfer 00:18:32 - Identifying personal values beyond professional achievements 00:19:23 - Impact of youth suicide 00:22:38 - 1% of your day for mental health concept 00:25:04 - Importance of practicing gratitude 00:28:57 - Statistics on negative thoughts 00:35:47 - Plans for workshops for youth engagement 00:39:28 - 14 Daily healthy habits 00:41:38 - Cooper's final message to the World 📃Guest Bio: With over a decade of experience as a professional surfer, Cooper has a knack for making mental health not just important, but cool. Growing up in Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia, Cooper's passion for mental health advocacy was sparked by personal experiences, including his father's struggle with depression and his little sister losing two friends to suicide in her last year of high school. Since 2019, Cooper has dedicated himself to transforming mental health awareness and education. He has conducted extensive interviews with over 100 experts, continuously expanding his knowledge to deliver practical and accessible mental health strategies. Cooper emphasizes that mental health is not the same as mental illness; it is something we all have and should actively care for daily. His engaging approach makes complex mental health topics understandable and actionable for students, empowering them to lead happier and more fulfilling lives. To date, Cooper has spoken to over 40,000 students, receiving extensive positive feedback and data that highlight the significant impact of his work. 📲Find out more about Cooper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ Website: https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com/ 📲Find out more about Dr Espen Website: https://drespen.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drespenwoldjensen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_espen/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr_espen