Measuring fly fishing’s benefits to disabled vets’ mental health
By
Duggan Flanakin
|
December 5th, 2024
Just since 2012, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. has served over 65,000 veterans, including a growing number of women, suffering from physical injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The organization also supports veteran amputees, many of whom have learned to tie flies with one arm.
Fly tying and rod building also help vets recover motor skills. The camaraderie and the fishing help with PTSD, anxiety, and depression – all vital to reducing the veteran suicide rate. An army of volunteers helps these healing veterans, combining fishing with stream rehabilitation, mangrove removal, and trash pickup – all needed to preserve the vitality of fly-fishing streams.
As Project Healing Waters enters its twentieth year, current CEO John Langford is confident, based on two decades of anecdotal evidence, that fly fishing has been a powerful tool in helping disabled veterans heal from PTSD.
https://www.cfact.org/2024/12/05/measuring-fly-fishings-benefits-to-disabled-vets-mental-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=measuring-fly-fishings-benefits-to-disabled-vets-mental-health&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=measuring-fly-fishings-benefits-to-disabled-vets-mental-health
