The initiative, developed by Labour<\/a> MP<\/a> Dr Simon Opher and Ecotricity<\/a> owner Dale Vince<\/a>, will offer patients at surgeries across Gloucestershire<\/a> the opportunity to attend games at National League side Forest Green Rovers<\/a>, a club Mr Vince has owned since 2010.<\/p>\n Dr Opher, a former GP<\/a> and now the MP for Stroud, has championed social prescribing as an alternative to antidepressants<\/a> for individuals with mild or moderate depression. <\/p>\n His previous prescriptions have included activities such as comedy and gardening. <\/p>\n Dr Opher stated that, on average, around four out of five patients tend to stick with these prescribed activities, highlighting that one of the main benefits is tackling loneliness<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dr Opher told the PA news agency: \u201cI do think there\u2019s something about watching football which does give you a sense of community.<\/p>\n \u201cI think one of the biggest problems in our society is social isolation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really quite toxic, actually, and it\u2019s created in the modern world by social media.<\/p>\n \u201cPubs aren\u2019t so popular, we don\u2019t get out as much, we don\u2019t live in extended families, so that is very bad for you.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can quantify it, it\u2019s the same health risk as smoking about 20 cigarettes a day. It\u2019s really bad.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things here is just getting people out and socialising.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n MP Dr. Simon Opher and Ecotricity owner Dale Vince, who have pioneered a scheme to make live football available on prescription to help alleviate symptoms of depression (Karl Mackie\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n He added: \u201cFootball isn\u2019t going to be for everyone. Nothing is, but we need a range of options.<\/p>\n \u201cFootball is about socialising and roaring on your team, getting excited, taking yourself out of your own life for a short while, and living through something else.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Opher has previously spoken about his concerns on the over prescription of antidepressants.<\/p>\n He said he does not believe they should be given to patients if they have moderate or mild symptoms.<\/p>\n The number of people of antidepressants rose by 2.1% last year, compared to 2022\/23.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIf you\u2019ve got severe depression then I would always recommend antidepressants, but a large majority of people have got what they call mild to moderate depression, and the tendency at the moment is to give them tablets, because there\u2019s no mental health support really, it can take six months to get it, and you feel like you need to do something.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019ve got to a stage where we\u2019ve got 8.7 million people on antidepressants, so we need to try something else.\u201d<\/p>\n Patients at a dozen surgeries in the county near Forest Green\u2019s The New Lawn ground in Nailsworth will be given the chance to be referred to go to a game.<\/p>\n![\"MP](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/01K0KAG0MX7VMQAQE0DPVZQGRA.jpg\")
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