Mental health campaigner Lee Thompson took over AHDB Pork’s Twitter feed as part of Yellow Wellies’ #MindYourHead week.
Lee, who recently joined Harbro, won the 2020 National Pig Awards Special Achievement Award for his work in encouraging people to talk about their mental health through his ‘Flat White Chats’ podcast.
On encouraging people to talk, Lee, a prominent YNPA member, said: “Pick up the phone to that mate you’ve been meaning to call for the last couple of months. Send a text to check in with that friend who’s been isolated during lockdown. Schedule a FaceTime call for a beer & catch up after work
“Once someone is taking that first step, it’s most definitely the most important. Obviously during this time that we’re in it’s very strange and difficult and we miss out on a lot of social interaction.”
Throughout the day, Lee posted a number of videos highlighting some of his ‘top tips’:
Tip 1: Talking
– Pick up the to that mate you’ve been meaning to call for the last couple of months.
– Send a text to check in with that friend who’s been isolated during lockdown.
– Schedule a FaceTime call for a & catch up after work #MindYourHead #PorkTakeover pic.twitter.com/YZdApOW3GF— AHDB Pork (@AHDB_Pork) February 18, 2021
Tip 2: Get outside Have a break from tech, get some fresh air & move. If you do find yourself in front of a screen though, why not watch @TheAHDB’s mental wellbeing webinars: https://t.co/jRRjQHdAs7 And if you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to give someone a call #PorkTakeover pic.twitter.com/QxaXZF9BZf — AHDB Pork (@AHDB_Pork) February 18, 2021
Tip 3: Stop comparing yourself!
Social media can be great but it can also give a false impression of other people’s lives and too much time scrolling could be detrimental to our mental health (not to mention our time!) Why not have a break from it? #MindYourHead #PorkTakeover pic.twitter.com/UfP3pyFkSa— AHDB Pork (@AHDB_Pork) February 18, 2021
Support for the farming industry
At this particularly difficult time for the pig sector, it is worth remembering there is a lot of support out there for farming people and their families.
As part of farming charity RABI’s long term objective to be able to support farmer wellbeing with targeted services in the future, it recently launched an online mental wellbeing site for farming people (Kooth/Qwell), which can be viewed here: www.rabi.org.uk/kooth
RABI said it has received a great number of responses to its recently-launched Big Farming Survey so far but it is keen to maintain momentum up until the deadline of March 31. It wants to receive 26,000 responses to the largest survey of its type to help paint a true picture of the state of mental and physical wellbeing within the industry and to help shape its future services.
The online survey is available here: www.rabi.org.uk/
Key contacts
If you or any of your staff are struggling, please consider contacting any of the following support organisations, some of which are dedicated to helping the farming and rural communities:
The Farming Community Network (FCN)
Website: www.fcn.org.uk
Phone: 03000 111 999
You Are Not Alone (YANA)
Website: www.yanahelp.org
National Directory Of Rural Support Groups
Phone: 0300 323 0400
Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN)
Website: www.lrsn.co.uk
Phone: 0800 138 1710
The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)
Website: www.rabi.org.uk
Phone: 0808 281 9490
Samaritans
Website: www.samaritans.org
Phone: 116 123
Mind
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Phone: 0300 123 3393
