Forest Green tickets on prescription to improve patients’ mental health

In an innovative move, Forest Green Rovers, a National League football club, has partnered with local doctors to prescribe tickets to their matches as an alternative to antidepressants. The initiative, led by the club's owner, Dale Vince, aims to address the growing mental health crisis in the country by using the power of football to bring people together and improve their well-being. Vince, a green energy entrepreneur, believes that football has the ability to unite people and provide a sense of community, which can be beneficial for mental health. He notes that modern life has stripped away many social connections, contributing to the mental health crisis, and he sees the football club as a way to help put that right. The program will allow GPs to prescribe a day out at the Forest Green Rovers' matches as a complementary treatment option, providing an opportunity for patients to engage in a social activity and potentially improve their mental health.