Before he could even swim himself, Sebastian Slovin re his father hoisting a 6-year-old Sebastian on his back and swimming in the deeper waters at La Jolla Cove. It’s how his relationship with nature began, with his dad, who was one of the best and fastest swimmers in the world at one time.
“He treated the ocean, and everything in it, as an extension of his family, and I learned to do the same. This became especially true to me after he died. We spread his ashes in the ocean at La Jolla Cove. After that, I really came to see the ocean and the beach as an extension of my family,” he said. His father, Vernon Slovin, was a highly respected South African swimmer who died by suicide when Sebastian was 6. “When I went to the beach and ocean, I viewed it as a time to visit with my dad. Over time, my relationship with the ocean expanded to other aspects of nature. I started to view the trees and grass (and everything in nature, really) as an extension of my family. That’s very much how my present relationship with nature is today.”
Slovin’s ion for nature and its healing benefits began after his father’s ing, where he spent time outside as a way to heal. Nature continues to take a leading role in promoting his own mental health, which is why he started Nature Unplugged in 2012, a nonprofit organization focused on helping people to disconnect from their technology devices and reconnect with nature. They facilitate opportunities to engage in nature and, with his wife and co-founder, Sonya Mohamed, and her background in education and curriculum development, they also center their work around helping people develop healthy boundaries with technology and acquiring mental well-being through education. Earlier this month, the San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council released its “Report to the Community 2024,” highlighting suicide prevention efforts and collected data; Nature Unplugged was included in the public release of this report, which includes information on resources and programs, and normalizing conversations and screenings on suicide and mental health.
Slovin, 40, is the director of programs and co-founder of Nature Unplugged, and lives in Encinitas with Mohamed and their son, Sy. He took some time to talk about their work to help people get outside more frequently and improve their mental health, and the ways that he’s been able to establish his own boundaries with technology and improving his mental health.
Q: What elements of nature, or natural environments, do you find yourself most drawn to?
A: Definitely the ocean (and water) is the main element that I’m drawn to. It’s also the one I spend the most time with. With that said, I feel very connected to other natural elements and environments, as well. I love the mountains. While I’ve taken a bit longer to connect with the desert, I think that’s an amazing environment, as well. One thing I love about growing up and living in San Diego is that we have such incredible access to so many different types of environments.
Q: What has your own relationship to digital media and devices looked like?
A: Another key inspiration for starting Nature Unplugged was my relationship with digital media and devices. Around 2010, I found myself increasingly drawn into the digital world, particularly social media. This left me feeling more distracted and disconnected from myself and those around me, including my wife.
Since founding Nature Unplugged in 2012, I’ve been on a journey to intentionally examine and improve my relationship with technology. My goal is to use devices in ways that and benefit me, rather than as an escape. While it’s an ongoing challenge and far from perfect, being mindful of my tech use has made a significant difference.
Q: In your work through Nature Unplugged, what have you learned about the connection between technology and mental health?
A: When we started in 2012, the research on this topic was just beginning to emerge. Fortunately, since then (and especially in the last few years), there has been more and more of a focus on this topic. There is now a ton of research on the topic, and indisputable evidence that tech overuse, with social media in particular, negatively affects our mental health. This is especially true of youth. In short, since the early 2010s we have seen a steady increase in youth anxiety, depression, attention disorders, self-harm, and suicide. I think it’s also important to recognize that this is not just a youth issue. While the statistics are more staggering with youth, this is something that impacts most everyone, regardless of age.
What I love about Encinitas…
I’m so grateful to live and work in Encinitas. We work in an amazing place at The Hive at Leichtag Commons. We’ve got a wonderful community here, great schools, a lot of access to parks and nature spaces, and we’re fortunate to be so close to the beach and have some of the best surf spots in the county!
Q: And what have you learned about the connection between exposure to/time spent in nature and mental health?
A: The good news is that there’s a powerful antidote to tech and screen overuse: nature. Spending time in nature can help undo many of the negative effects of excessive screen time, and there’s plenty of research to back this up. Studies have shown that even a brief exposure to nature-just five minutes-can boost mood and promote positive emotions.
Beyond the research, many of us have experienced this firsthand. Whether you’re feeling stuck or down, simply stepping outside for a walk or a few minutes in nature often brings a noticeable shift. In our organization, we emphasize the idea of “nature doses” to highlight how even small moments outdoors can make a big difference.
Q: Can you talk about your organization’s involvement in the county’s suicide prevention work? How and why did Nature Unplugged become involved in these efforts?
A: My father’s suicide had a huge impact on me from an early age. As I got older, I became more interested in understanding what happened to my dad. I began to study and learn everything I could on the topic. As I got more involved in suicide prevention, I ended up connecting with and becoming a member of the San Diego Suicide Prevention Council, and that has been invaluable. I’ve been able to expand my skills and knowledge to be more effective and prepared in helping to prevent suicide. Being part of this group has made me aware of the incredible resources we have here in San Diego, but most importantly, it has become a community of likeminded individuals and organizations, which is so incredibly important in this work.
I view the work that we do at Nature Unplugged as suicide prevention. It’s probably not how people typically view suicide prevention, meaning it’s not crisis intervention; our goal is to give people tools and resources to promote mental health early and ideally long before it reaches a crisis.
Q: In 2018, your book about your experience with your father’s suicide was published, “Ashes in the Ocean: A Son’s Story of Living Through and Learning From His Father’s Suicide.” Are you comfortable sharing what compelled you to write this book and share the story of your experience with suicide?
A: Losing my father to suicide had an enormous impact on my life from a young age. I’ve seen firsthand the impact suicide can have on a family and what those left behind have to deal with. I was compelled to write this book because, for many years, I didn’t talk about or deal with my dad’s suicide; I did whatever I could to avoid it.
As a 6-year-old, I didn’t fully understand what suicide was, but I knew right away there was something strange about what happened to my dad. That is, our family and extended family basically stopped talking about him. I could feel the stigma before I understood what it was.
Growing up under the cloud of this stigma, I struggled with my own mental health and thoughts of suicide as a teenager. I was very fortunate to have an experience when I was 17 that I think saved my life and completely changed my perspective on suicide. To make a long story short, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with one of my dad’s best friends, who lived in Australia. He and my father grew up together in South Africa and were on the national swim team together. I didn’t know it at the time, but his father also died by suicide when he was a boy. He essentially shared with me that this (my dad’s suicide) was something that I could not run away from. Although it would be difficult to face in the short term, it would be much easier in the long run. By facing my dad’s suicide and bringing it out of the shadows and into the light, I was able to break through the stigma and shame and begin to heal. I’ve been on that journey ever since.
Q: What are some lessons you’ve learned, that you talk about in the book, that you’ve been able to use in your work at Nature Unplugged and in the countywide efforts to prevent suicide?
A: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that mental health and thoughts of suicide thrive on being in the shadows. I know how difficult it can be, but it’s vital that we face this and talk about it to the extent that we can. Avoidance doesn’t work. Another big lesson is being proactive about mental health issues. There are so many things that we can do preventatively and that’s been our biggest focus at Nature Unplugged.
Q: One of your programs is your Nature Unplugged Clubs, which are community-led groups that get people to meet in person for analog activities like hiking, playing board games, arts and crafts, and other activities. How many of these clubs are currently active in San Diego County? What is the about the kind of difference these clubs and activities have made for the people participating in them?
A: This is a new program that we’ve been piloting this past year. We have one club here in San Diego County that we run and have monthly gatherings. What’s great about this model and the future vision of Nature Unplugged Clubs is that once people have gone through one of our programs, they can then start a club. We provide some structure and resources, and club leaders have autonomy to do what they and their community enjoy most. We’re currently piloting clubs in a variety of cities across the U.S., and Canada, as well. Our aim is to expand this program in 2025.
Q: You also have a 28-day challenge, encouraging people to follow seven rules to limit their screen time every day (creating a curfew for digital media use; no technology or screens in the bedroom, bathroom, or during meals; no personal social media use; spending 30 minutes moving outside). How many times have you done the 28-day challenge? What kinds of results did you notice for yourself at the end of the 28 days?
A: I’ve done the 28-day challenge twice now, once a year the past two years. I’ve done it during the month of October and our annual Nature Unplugged Hike-A-Thon. While I’m pretty hardcore about my tech boundaries in general, doing the 28-Day Challenge is an incredible reset for me. I notice that I sleep better, and have more energy and clarity. I think the social media break, in particular, is hugely beneficial.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Avoidance doesn’t work; it’s better to face things head on.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: I used to be a professional bodyboarder (boogieboarder). Like surfing, but less cool.
Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: Staying close to home in Encinitas, spending time with my family and hanging out at the beach at Swamis. And, getting into the ocean!
