Tackling Minds uses fishing to tackle mental health – via SWNS

After fishing turned out to be the saving grace during his recovery from a decade of mental health struggles and alcohol addiction, an Englishman wanted to hook others on the soothing sport—and now his program is a medicine being prescribed by doctors.

Founded five years ago, the service staffed by fishing volunteers, has partnered with the UK’s National Health Service, to prescribe angling for anxiety and depression.

“If it wasn’t for fishing I don’t think I’d be here,” he admitted in an interview with SWNS news agency.

His program gained national recognition last month when it was honored by King Charles—winning the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the business equivalent of an MBE.

“I’m just ecstatic!” said Dave Lyons, the founder of Tackling Minds.

“I feel very, very proud of the group and all our volunteers.”

He initially worked with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, but in April 2021, he teamed up with the NHS so doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals could prescribe angling instead of, or alongside, antidepressants and anxiety medications.

2,300 people have been prescribed a stint of fishing, so far—and all the equipment and coaching is provided by Tackling Minds, which always releases every fish that has been caught.

Tackling Minds uses fishing to tackle mental health – via SWNS

Organizers hope the program will soon be rolled out nationwide as part of the NHS’ “social prescribing” initiative.

Social prescribing, known also as community referrals, includes a range of activities that could help with mental health. Such programs include visits to museums, poetry reading, and excursions into nature—especially the latter because so many studies show that time spent in nature, particularly around tree cover, improves both mental and physical health, and can reduce pain.

(In fact, in 2022, PaRx Canada consisted of over 1,000 physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals in B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario who can prescribe a free annual pass from the Canadian parks authority.)

Tackling Minds provides each participant with a qualified angling coach trained to work with people in vulnerable situations, and each group has support workers, paid for in part with $13,000 (£10,000) in National Lottery funding and financial support from the Angling Trust.

“People we’ve worked with have said it’s saved their lives. That’s huge for me, it’s what keeps me going,” said the father of two from Stockport, Cheshire.

Volunteers with Tackling Minds with founder Dave (middle, center) – via SWNS
A royal thank you

Dave got an email from Buckingham Palace officials on October 7 revealing that Tackling Minds had won the King’s Award.

“This feels like the highest accolade we could have hoped for,” said the 41-year-old.

“My family are very proud of the group—and of me—for everything I have overcome, and that’s very touching.”

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He is looking forward to collecting the crystal award at a ceremony in Manchester in December, and to attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace in the spring.

Dave—who received congratulations from TV hosts Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, who star in the BBC show Gone Fishing—is dedicating the award to Tackling Minds’ late ambassador, the former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton, who lost his life to suicide on September 14.

“Ricky helped me in my worst times in 2020. He gave me so much encouragement and we became friends.

“He worked so hard helping people with their mental health, and I just know how proud he would have been of me, the family, and the group.”

Tackling Minds now has over 50 volunteers and plans to expand its services to bring the peace of fishing to others in Lancashire and beyond.

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“There are lots of fishing groups working with the NHS now, so it’s reaching thousands.

“I’m so glad we’ve been able to make such a difference to others, and it’s lovely to have our hard work recognized like this.”

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