Forest Green football tickets on prescription under new scheme

Football tickets will be prescribed to help treat the symptoms of depression, as part of a pilot program.

The labor deputy for Stroud, Dr. Simon Opher, and the founder of ecotricity and owner of Forest Green Rovers, Dale Vince, have established plans that will see patients in the Gloucestershire have offered the possibility of attending the matches of the National League.

The initiative is part of Dr Opher’s decision to provide social prescription to patients with light or moderate depression, instead of antidepressants.

“Football clubs are at the center of our communities and it is a way of bringing people who may be a bit socially isolated in the community and returning with people,” said Dr. Opher.

He added: “It is a different way of treating mental disease that does not imply tablets.

“When you play football, you go out often and socialize afterwards. I think that one of the problems of our society is that we have lost this capacity and many people are quite isolated – which leads to depression.”

Dr. Opher previously prescribed other activities such as comedy and gardening.

Patients who are part of the pilot program will be invited to provide comments on the impact he had on their mental health.

The deputy previously talked about his concerns concerning the overestimates of antidepressants to people who have light symptoms, but believe that they offer a solution to those who experience more serious signs.

“Some people have very serious mental health problems and need drugs and specialized care,” he said.

“What we are targeting here are people with moderate depression.”

The pilot is tested during 12 surgeries near the new stage of the Forest Green lawn in Nailsworth.

Tickets will be provided by the club for free and the pilot will take place all season – starting with the first home game against Yeovil on August 16.

Mr. Vince, who has owned the club since 2010, said: “I think it would be a good thing if football clubs from top to bottom of the country could reach people and do it.

“Men generally don’t really talk about their problems, it’s the thing, and you also get loneliness and things like that.

“I had periods of my life when I was a little fed up, and excluded … A little down from time to time, it is easy to spiral when you are not in contact with people and I just wanted to do something with that.”

Forest Green reached League one for the first time in their history in 2022 before undergoing two consecutive relegations to end his seven years fate in the English football league.

The former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage was appointed on July 1.