3 minute read
Gone Fishing
To onlookers it’s just friends on a fishing trip. To Ryan Sharples it’s a lifeline.
Four years ago, Ryan was working long hours, hardly sleeping and cut off from friends and family. He began hearing voices and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and psychosis.
He’s not alone. Mental health issues often stem from other causes such as loneliness and isolation, issues which the NHS can’t solve alone.
The fishing project comes from a pioneering partnership* between Mersey Care and Sean’s Place, a charity offering social and therapeutic support to men in Sefton. Staff work alongside community mental health teams so patients coming to the end of their treatment receive the social support they need to help them recover.
Becky Taylor, Mersey Care’s Head of Operations for Community Mental Health, explains. “The NHS can treat someone for a mental health issue, but if we want them to stay well afterwards we have to also help them tackle issues that aren’t medical, like cost of living, loneliness or isolation. Without this kind of social support, people will struggle more to recover.”
“Through our partnerships people get a chance to build friendships or try new activities. It can make such a difference to someone, helping them to develop skills to get well and stay well.”
Sean’s Place was set up by Debbie Rogers as testament to her brother Sean, who died by suicide in 2019. She says the partnership means they can support a man for as long as he needs.
“We’re here to support men who might be coming to the end of their clinical treatment so we can continue supporting them to make the change less daunting.”
Fishing is on a long list of activities, but men can call in for a coffee and a chat at any time.
“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach here,” says Debbie. “People can choose what activities they want to join in with. There’s something for everyone and we’re here for them as long as they need us to be.”
*The partnership is part of Mersey Care’s Community Mental Health Transformation Programme.
It’s Changed Me
Ryan Sharples (left on main pic) says fishing has helped with his recovery.
“I found it hard to come to terms that I had a mental health condition and that I needed help. Being in a new situation with the fear of judgement would normally bring on my psychosis, but within minutes of being at Sean’s Place I felt welcome.
It’s changed my mindset and my self esteem. I have pride. I can take on new things, but just being able to come in and chat over coffee is amazing.
I’ve made friends for life and seen a change in myself. It only takes one step in the right direction to get yourself back on track.”
Research by Anglia Ruskin University revealed that ‘Individuals who fish have lower levels of diagnosed anxiety disorder, suicide attempts and instances of deliberate self harm compared to those who did not fish.’
Apparently nearly two million of us watch each episode of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, the BBC2 series where the comedians Bob and Paul bond through fishing. They say the experience has helped their recovery from heart problems.
