Tight Lines and Sound Minds: Casting Out for Better Mental Health
Tight Lines and Sound Minds is a community based fishing group in Whitehaven created to support local people who may be struggling with their mental health, feeling isolated, or simply looking for a healthier outlet in life.
Founded by Alex Hind after his own journey with mental health, emotional challenges and a supportive nudge from his partner, the group offers a calm, welcoming environment where anyone can experience the therapeutic benefits of spending time by the water and casting a line.
Mental health challenges touch every community, and most of us will experience them at some point in our lives, either personally or through someone we care about. Across the UK, suicide remains the leading cause of death for men aged 18 to 40, and in Cumbria the suicide rate is 55 percent higher than the national average. Against this backdrop, one local man has transformed his own struggles into a grassroots movement offering support, connection, and an unexpected path to healing.
For Alex, fishing was once a childhood pastime shared with his father. As he moved into his teenage years and adulthood, that early passion faded, replaced by alcohol and a lifestyle that slowly took its toll. After leaving Cumbria for a short while Alex returned to Cumbria in search of stability and recovery. It was there, standing once again on the pier where he had spent countless hours as a boy, that something shifted.
“I like to tell folk that you’re literally replacing chasing the dragon with chasing a fish,” Alex explained. “The feeling you get when you get a good catch is unmatched. Nothing can come close to that feeling. I started getting out more with the lads, on the pier instead of the pub, spending a few hours just looking out to sea and talking. I found myself opening up more. I always knew fishing helped me and that it could help others in the same way, I just never got around to setting anything up. Then my partner Bethany said, ‘If you want to do it, go for it.’ Her belief in me sparked something, and I said, “you know what, let’s do it.”
From that realisation, Tight Lines and Sound Minds was born.
Based in Whitehaven, the group aims to help local people experience the mental health benefits of fishing: fresh air, calm surroundings, companionship, a skill, and a healthy outlet for difficult emotions. Many people who are struggling find the idea of walking into a formal indoor support group intimidating. Tight Lines Sound Minds offers a very different environment — open skies, open water, and a relaxed, pressure free setting.
Alex emphasises that the group is not focused on heavy conversations or structured therapy. “It is not all about talking about personal problems,” he said. “It is about finding a healthy outlet. The talking usually comes naturally, so there is no pressure. I just wanted to help people who are struggling find somewhere other than the pub to escape. You do not need equipment; we will share what we have and teach anyone who has never fished before. Everybody is welcome.”
Alex leads the group alongside Jack Beech, Joe Mills, and with support from Matthew Waugh, who owns the local tackle shop. Each meet-up has so far drawn between seven and seventeen participants. TLSM is not a professional service; it is a group of local men who found peace, recovery, and purpose through fishing and who want to extend that opportunity to others.
Alex adds, “We would love to see more people joining us. It is a good laugh and everyone is friendly and welcoming. There is no judgment. And we are a dry group. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. We are not here for that, the whole idea is to realise that you dont need those substances to find joy in what you are doing.”
The lads also do a clean up of the piers during their sessions collecting any rubbish found and always ensure themselves that they leave no mess when their session is done.
For anyone struggling, feeling isolated, or hoping to make a positive change in the year ahead, the group meets once a week and offers a chance to meet new people, learn a new skill, reconnect with an old hobby as well as spend time outdoors clearing the mind.
Updates and meet-up information can be found on their Facebook group.
A website and app is currently in development. In the future, they hope to organise group trips and expand their activities, but for now it is all about casting out, connecting with others, and enjoying the simple pleasure of good company, good craic and hopefully a good catch.
To find out more join their facebook page: Tight Lines and Sound Minds
