A World Mental Health Day guest blog by Dee Wren
Every season, anglers travel from near and far to experience the River Dee and the beauty of Royal Deeside—from crisp spring mornings to autumn days when the trees turn gold. Some live close to the river; others journey from across Scotland, the wider UK and around the world. Whatever brings them here, many discover that a day on the water offers much more than fishing.Â
For World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October, I have been reflecting on the benefits fly fishing can bring to mental wellbeing, as well as the conversations I have shared with fellow anglers and people who work along the riverbank.
Anticipation and Escape
A 2015 Harvard Medical School article by freelance journalist Scott Edward, Fly Fishing and the Brain, explored why the activity can be so beneficial. The subject feels even more relevant today, as many people face additional pressures, more sedentary routines and greater amounts of screen time.
What makes a day of fly fishing so restorative? Part of it may be the anticipation: stepping away from the pressures of home or work, choosing where to fish, checking the weather and river levels, selecting a line and fly, and packing lunch for the day ahead. Even the planning creates space to focus on something positive.
Finding Focus on the River
Arriving at the river brings its own sense of relief. You pull on your waders, walk down to the bank and perhaps chat with the ghillie about which fly might suit the pools ahead. With the first cast, your body begins to unwind and the pressures of everyday life recede for a while.
Fly fishing draws your attention to the present moment: the colour of the sky, the height and movement of the water, the careful placement of each step and the point where the fly lands. The combination of casting and concentration can encourage a deeply absorbed “flow state”, interrupting repetitive thoughts and helping the body and mind to settle.
Nature’s Quiet Distractions
As you watch and wait for a fish to inspect the fly, the river reveals other moments of interest: the blue flash of a kingfisher, an otter in some stretches of the Dee, a heron watching a nearby pool or perhaps a deer crossing the water. Your attention is no longer fixed on the stress you brought with you; it is absorbed by the life of the river.
A Thought for World Mental Health Day
This World Mental Health Day, consider making time for nature. Perhaps that means returning to a favourite outdoor activity—or picking up a fishing rod in the 2027 season and casting for Atlantic salmon on the Dee.
If something does not feel right, please reach out. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
The services listed in the accompanying documents are free, confidential and available for more than emergencies.
See you on the river….
Helpful telephone numbers and services in the Grampian region in the two documents below.