Press Release
For immediate release | 26 June 2017 |
A former patient has thanked CNWL staff for helping him to live out his footballing dream with Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
Four years ago in 2013, James Casling, 21, was admitted to CNWL’s Park Royal Mental Health Centre spending three months there, following the death of his father who ended his own life.
At the time, he was a teenager who was having suicidal thoughts and who had made several attempts to take his own life by self-harming.
Now the QPR Healthy Kickers’ striker is a valued member of QPR through QPR in the Community Trust with whom he also provides coaching support.
James firmly believes his life was changed for the better through the care and support provided by staff at Park Royal who encouraged him to take up sports and exercise.
During his time there he was introduced to the Healthy Kickers’ football therapy programme, playing football once a week at a local sports centre. The programme is run in conjunction by Park Royal and QPR in the Community Trust.
He said: “I was lucky enough to be in a hospital where I was helped, but I know that there are hospitals that don’t have this sort of initiative in their programme. If I didn’t have it, I don’t know where I would be.”
During this time James built close relationships with the hospital staff.
He said: “They would take me to anything sport related just to get me out the hospital. We would play badminton, tennis and football. The staff didn’t look at me as a patient; they looked at me as a young man.”
He added: “[The CNWL staff were] just talking to me with dignity and respect and the interaction they gave me. It wasn’t treating me like I was a little kid; they were treating me like an 18-year-old.”
Since playing in the programme, James has become the top goal scorer for three seasons in a row, keeping up a total of 76 goals, and although a Liverpool fan he describes QPR as where his heart belongs.
He said: “Here is where I am, this is where I feel at home. It’s not just a football club, for me it’s more than that. It’s about being a part of it and about the people who make the club.”
Recently, James presented the Hampshire Social Inclusion Cup 2017, which celebrates equality in the community and took place at Goals Portsmouth.
This was the fourth annual tournament run by Portsmouth charity, Victory Hants, works to support those who have suffered social isolation such as mental health issues.
The 21-year-old continues to attend therapy at another CNWL service in Brent and hopes to find a career in football coaching.
ENDS
Contact
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5700 e-mail: communications.cnwl@nhs.net