GPs are to prescribe football matches for depression as Stroud MP Dr Simon Opher and Forest Green chairman Dale Vince launch the initiative.
Dr Opher, a former GP and Stroud MP, promotes social prescribing as an alternative to antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, with past prescriptions including comedy and gardening.
The scheme aims to combat loneliness, with around four out of five patients continuing these kind of prescribed activities.
As the new football season kicks off, Dale Vince and Dr Simon Opher MP are proud to announce a groundbreaking new initiative – Football on Prescription.
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‘There are a lot of benefits to be had.’
Olympian Fatima Whitbread MBE is in favour of GPs making football tickets available on prescription for depression sufferers.
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FOREST GREEN STATEMENT:
As the new football season kicks off, Dale Vince and Dr Simon Opher MP are proud to announce a groundbreaking new initiative – Football on Prescription. In collaboration with a dozen surgeries across Stroud, Gloucestershire, the initiative makes football part of the treatment plan for mental health.
From this season, doctors and nurses can prescribe football if the patient and doctor feel it could help mental illness or feelings of isolation. It’s the first scheme of its kind in the UK – and maybe the world.
Dr Simon Opher said: “Research shows that physical activity improves mental and physical health. We also know that social isolation plays a major role in poor mental health – and that community, connection, and shared experiences can help people feel less alone. This initiative brings those two ideas together. It’s a form of social prescription – with football as the medicine.”
Dr Opher told the PA news agency: “I do think there’s something about watching football which does give you a sense of community. I think one of the biggest problems in our society is social isolation. It’s really quite toxic, actually, and it’s created in the modern world by social media. Pubs aren’t so popular, we don’t get out as much, we don’t live in extended families, so that is very bad for you. You can quantify it, it’s the same health risk as smoking about 20 cigarettes a day. It’s really bad. One of the things here is just getting people out and socialising. Football isn’t going to be for everyone. Nothing is, but we need a range of options. Football is about socialising and roaring on your team, getting excited, taking yourself out of your own life for a short while, and living through something else.”
FGR Chairman, Dale Vince said: “This idea was born from conversations between myself and Simon. It’s aimed at everyone struggling with their mental health, but especially men, who are statistically the hardest to reach. The leading cause of death in men under 50 is now suicide – and loneliness is often a key factor. If a Saturday afternoon at a football match can help someone feel more connected and less alone, then that’s a powerful first step.”
Vince added, per Stroud Times: “I think it’d be a great thing if football clubs up and down the country could reach out to people and do this. Men typically don’t really talk about their issues, that’s the thing, and you get loneliness and things like that as well. In my life I’ve had periods of my life where I’ve been a bit fed up, and excluded … a bit down from time to time, it’s easy to spiral downwards when you’re not in contact with people and I just wanted to do something with that. Forest Green has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I’m keen to share that.”
This hasn’t been done before, so the scheme will be collecting evidence – to understand how much impact something like this can have. To see whether this intervention can help people get better without the need for medication. If it works, we’ll look to expand it.
Football on Prescription is now live and available to anyone who sees their doctor about mental health at the following surgeries in and around Stroud.
We are seeing more and more clubs across the country, tackling loneliness by offering them to come to their matches, as a way of getting out of the house, mixing with society, clearing the mind, and being part of a family.
Check in with your local team, club, group, or GP and ask the doctor, message online and enquire about social prescription. This is just the start, you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Mental health and depression helplines
NHS – Mental Health
Mental health for children, teenagers and young adults
Comprehensive help and information from NHS with links to external help and support.
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Anxiety, panic attacks & trauma
This leaflet is for anyone who is, or has been depressed. We hope it will also be helpful for friends and relatives. It describes what depression feels like, some of the help that is available, how you can help yourself and how to help someone else who is depressed. It also mentions some of the things we don’t know about depression. At the end of the leaflet there is a list of other places where you can get further information.
Mind
Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393
Side by side – on-line support community
The MindinfoLine offers thousands of callers confidential help on a range of mental health issues. Mind helps people take control of their mental health. We do this by providing high-quality information and advice, and campaigning to promote and protect good mental health for everyone. They also provide a special legal service to the public, lawyers and mental health workers.
Shout
Text Shout to 85258
Shout is the UK’s first free 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.
Trauma Research UK
We are a national registered trauma research charity dedicated to making a difference. Offering support and recovery programmes to those suffering from trauma and anxiety-related disorders such as phobias, panic attacks, PTSD, OCD, GAD etc. We know you may be suffering right now, but please consider this – “It’s not what’s wrong with you, it’s what happened to you”.
Hub of Hope
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place. We want to ensure that all of us – no matter what we are experiencing, or how we see and understand our experiences – feel welcome on the Hub of Hope.
Be Mindful
Mindfulness can give people more insight into their emotions, boost their attention and concentration and improve relationships. It’s proven to help with stress, anxiety, depression and addictive behaviours, and can even have a positive effect on physical problems like hypertension, heart disease and chronic pain.
ChildLine
Helpline: 0800 11 11
ChildLine is a counselling service for children and young people. You can contact ChildLine in these ways: You can phone on 0800 1111, send us an email, have a 1-2-1 chat with us, send a message to Ask Sam and you can post messages to the ChildLine message boards. You can contact ChildLine about anything – no problem is too big or too small. If you are feeling scared or out of control or just want to talk to someone you can contact ChildLine.
Young Minds
Helpline: 0808 802 5544
Parents’ Information Service gives advice to parents or carers who may be concerned about the mental health or emotional wellbeing of a child or young person.
Kooth.com
Kooth.com is an online counselling service and online mental health community that provides vulnerable young people, between the ages of 11 and 25, with advice and support for emotional or mental health problems. Kooth.com offers users a free, confidential, safe and anonymous way to access help.
The Mix
Life’s tough, we know that. It can throw a lot your way and make it hard to know what the hell to do with it all. So, welcome to The Mix. Whether you’re 13, 25, or any age in between, we’re here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts you have. We give you the information and support you need to deal with it all. Because you can. Because you’re awesome.
Papyrus
HOPELINEUK – 0800 068 4141
Support for anyone under 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.
stem4
stem4 is a charity that promotes positive mental health in teenagers and those who support them including their families and carers, education professionals, as well as school nurses and GPs through the provision of mental health education, resilience strategies and early intervention. This is primarily provided digitally through our innovative education programme, pioneering mental health apps, clinically-informed website and mental health conferences that contribute to helping young people and those around them flourish.
Students Against Depression
Developed in consultation with students who have been affected by depression, low mood or suicidal thoughts. Many of their stories and suggestions are included on the site.
Campaign Against Living Miserably
Helpline: 0800 58 58 58
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) works to prevent male suicide and offers support services for any man who is struggling or in crisis. CALM’s helpline 0800 58 58 58 and web-chat are for men in the UK who need to talk or find information and support. The services are open 5pm–midnight daily and are free, anonymous and confidential. For access or to find more information visit thecalmzone.net
SOS Silence of Suicide
For support call: 0808 115 1505 (8pm to midnight M-F. 4 to midnight Sat/Sun)
We support everyone affected by suicide, whether they be bereaved, having thoughts of suicide, or have attempted suicide. No one should feel awkward. No one should feel isolated, we will continue to support everyone and anyone who needs our help.
Samaritans Tel: 116 123 (Free)
www.samaritans.org Whatever you’re going through, we’re here to help 24 hours a day. We won’t judge you and we won’t share what you tell us with anyone else. Get in touch by telephone, email, letter and face to face in the UK and Ireland. Visit befrienders.org if you live outside the UK or Ireland.
