Home|
News|
News Stories

The fishing scheme giving hope to struggling heroes

by Freddie Sandford |

Published on11th December 2025 at 2.00pm

A unique angling programme is helping former military and emergency service personnel overcome their challenging mental health conditions. iCarp is led by chartered psychologist Dr Mark Wheeler and, over the last two years, has helped nearly 1,500 veterans suffering from PTSD, depression and anxiety, among many other conditions, through fishing and spending time outdoors.

Based in North Essex, a typical iCarp session involves working with trained fishing coaches and receiving tuition from angling experts, most of whom are military veterans or former emergency service personnel themselves. Attendees are also given the opportunity to socialise with one another and talk about their traumas and symptoms.

Each participant is given a psychological assessment during sessions, wearing a heart rate monitor and special glasses that monitor how they’re viewing the landscape. It’s hoped that, with proof of the success of projects like iCarp, angling will eventually be prescribed by more GPs.

iCarp’s Dr Mark Wheeler with a happy visitor

“This is the aim of the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which would remove any financial barriers to accessing angling,” said Dr Wheeler.

“Hopefully, in a few years' time, if you were to go to your GP because you're struggling with these issues, they would be able to socially prescribe angling.”

Additionally, iCarp has a community mental health team that works with anxious school ‘refusers’, people from Special Educational Needs schools, and RAMA – a charity that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.

“Many people that this team has worked with over the years have touched us emotionally,” Dr Wheeler said.

“One was a survivor of a brain trauma, sustained in a fall. It was rewarding to watch his journey, both physically and mentally, as he made progress towards recovery.

“We were touched when he wanted to return as a volunteer to help others, as utilising people who have experience of life's challenges is particularly powerful.”

iCarp uses fishing to aid mental health.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us