Get ‘hooked on mental health’ at a Boise fishing event on April 22

Come get hooked on the Idaho outdoors and support a good cause! Local mental health agency A Body & Mind Health Services is hosting its annual Hooked on Mental Health event Saturday, April 22, at Parkcenter Pond in Boise.

The all-ages event begins at 8:30 a.m. Fishing permits for the event will be provided by Idaho Fish and Game at no cost to participants, and loaner gear will be available.

Hooked on Mental Health serves as a platform to promote local mental health awareness and the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors. A Body & Mind invites the public to grab their fishing gear and come out to support the cause!

“Mental health is so important — we have to work together as a community to address it and provide local resources,” said Patrick Fithen, A Body & Mind co-founder and CEO. “There tends to be a stigma when talking about mental health. When we provide opportunities for the community to get together and discuss the topic, it becomes easier to share and talk about.

“We hope this will become an annual celebration and opportunity for the community to gather mental health resources, create healthy relationships and fall in love with fishing while enjoying what Idaho has to offer,” Fithen added.

There will be lots of fun and prizes, including free admission to one of my Tight Lines 208 fishing classes. The A Body and Mind Health Services team will be on-site to provide fishing assistance and information about available mental health services and community resources. For more information, email patrickf@abmhealthservices.com.

Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit www.tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings.