Page 28 - Real Rochdale Issue 10 Summer 2021
P. 28
Littleborough’s Tackling Minds to
become first organisation to work
with NHS in prescribing angling
It was founded in 2020, practical and emotional
during lockdown, by David support rather than clinical
Lyons, who has personal services.
experience of the very issues
he is trying to help others David says this is the first
with, including battling with time fishing has been added
alcohol addiction and as an official option for
anxiety. health care professionals.
He explained: “Angling has He said: “This will be the
helped me get my life back first time in the whole of the
on track. If you speak to any United Kingdom that fishing
of my friends, they’ll tell you has ever been used in this
that I’d be the least person form, so it’s going to be a
you’d expect to suffer with huge achievement.
mental illness.
Littleborough social club “Tackling Minds has been
Tackling Minds – which aims “I was on the long road to working tirelessly for months
to help people through recovery, using the local drug to make this happen. If a
fishing – is to become the and alcohol services and patient approaches a doctor
first organisation to work slowly trying to turn my life with symptoms of mental
alongside the NHS in around. A very good friend health issues, instead of
prescribing fishing for those of mine, Simon Parker, that prescribing the patient
with mental health issues. I have fished with, and who medication, the patient can
today remains a great now be referred to use our
Tackling Minds has teamed support, was back fishing our service. It has now been
up with the Greater local waters. recognised that fishing is an
Manchester Mental Health amazing alternative to
NHS Foundation Trust so “Simon has an immense prescription medication.”
that angling can be passion for the sport and it is
prescribed instead of only through his passion, that
antidepressants and anxiety he rekindled my love for the
medication. sport. Just thinking about
getting back out there again
Tackling Minds is a not-for- was enough to get me
profit fishing organisation, excited.”
which runs angling events
for people who are suffering Social prescribing takes a
with mental health issues, holistic approach to people’s
social deprivation, addiction health and wellbeing, by
and recovery, families, connecting people to
disabilities and long-term community groups and
health conditions. statutory services for
REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2021 28 29 REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2021
