Fishing is being prescribed on the NHS to treat people in Greater Manchester with anxiety and depression in a UK first

Fishing is being prescribed on the NHS to treat people in Greater Manchester with anxiety and depression in a UK first

By Kate Pounds Charlotte Dobson

Source: manchestereveningnews

4/25/2021

A mental health trust has become the first in the UK to prescribe fishing as therapy.
GPs, nurses and other health care professionals can now prescribe angling instead of antidepressants.

It is hoped the time with nature, quiet reflection, meeting new people and learning a new skill could help people battling anything from addiction to anxiety.

The first anglers prescribed fishing therapy have already taken to the waterside and organisers hope it will be rolled out nationwide soon as part of the NHS' social prescribing initiative.

David Lyons, 37, who founded not-for-profit Tackling Minds after battling with alcohol addiction and anxiety disorder, said: "I’m so passionate about it.

“The whole idea comes from me getting back into fishing after about 15 years. I have tried about a million and one different medications and therapies.

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