Pickleball Therapy for Mental Illness: Every Wednesday, people living with mental illness gather at the Recovery Center of Hamilton County in Ohio to play pickleball. The goal is simple: use the game as a way to heal. Staff member Bill Brown started the program to reach people through fun and movement, and it’s working.
Pickleball as a New Kind of Therapy
Outside the center, a small court is set up in the parking lot using cones and dollies. It’s here that Bill Brown sees hope take shape.
“What we’re doing is offering anything we can think of that will stick with somebody,” Bill Brown said. “And so far, something has.”
The game gives people a reason to get out, socialize, and feel better. For many, that makes a huge difference.
Stories of Change and Growth
Betsy Fischer remembers when she was afraid to speak to others or leave her house.
“It was very, very hard for me just to talk to people. I felt very isolated and depressed,” Betsy Fischer said. “That’s why environments like this are so important.”
Now, she plays pickleball every week at the center.
“It’s brought me out of my shell,” Betsy Fischer said. “You would never know that I struggle with mental illness.”
Judy Lamping shared her own story with a laugh.
“You don’t have time for that,” Judy Lamping said. “I can talk the ear off a badger.”
She admits she’s not great at pickleball, and her depression and anxiety diagnosis doesn’t define her. What matters most to her is the feeling of belonging.
“It saved my life,” Judy Lamping said. “It really has. It saved my life.”
One Connection at a Time
Bill Brown watches from the sidelines, proud of what the simple game has done for so many.
“That’s what I love about this place,” Bill Brown said. “We’ll do whatever we can to reach one person.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Therapy for Mental Illness
The Recovery Center of Hamilton County uses weekly pickleball games to support people with mental illness. Organized by staff member Bill Brown, the activity has helped participants like Betsy Fischer and Judy Lamping overcome isolation, build connections, and find joy. The simple sport is changing lives one rally at a time.
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