David Lyons

Founding Director @Tackling Minds

GB

I\'ve suffered with mental health problems in the past and fishing played a vital role in managing my illness.Buoyed by my own experience of the benefits of the great outdoors, my mission is to pass on my knowledge and encourage people from all backgrounds to get into fishing and reap the positive health benefits it can offer. I work closely with mental health organisations, schools, and social prescribing link workers to provide a safe, supportive, accessible and affordable environment within which the community’s diverse population can enjoy a range of cultural, educational, leisure and social activities.By engaging with small groups, using a range of fishing methods to provide personal stimulation & development opportunities and the positive stress-relief therapy that blue-green spaces offer, the Tackling Minds team brings people together in a rich, socially engaging environment essential to securing well-being and active ageing.A Manchester native, I formed Tackling Minds after going through a long period of personal recovery and is convinced the sport of fishing saved my life. After battling alcohol addiction, major anxiety disorder and depression for almost a decade, I completed several stints in alcohol detox facilities following unfortunate relapses back into the vicious cycle of masking his feelings with drink and drugs.With the support of my family, partner Jenny and friends, I\'ve has rekindled my love for the sport and it is this passion for the great outdoors that is helping to keep me on the straight and narrow.It has become my mission to share my experiences and the positive benefits that fishing can offer to people from all backgrounds through the Tackling Minds organisation – to date many local people have benefitted from the sessions and I\'m truly committed to helping as many people as possible to turn a new page in their current life journey.