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In recent weeks Co Derry farmer David Devine has spoken up on his own struggles with mental health.
Featuring in a mental health campaign run by the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) in May, and in the latest ABP-commissioned podcast hosted by former BBC presenter Karen Patterson, David outlines what happened to him over seven years ago.
It started during the harvest of 2012, and throughout the following winter he knew something was wrong. “I had zero reason for feeling depressed. I put it down to bad weather and bad prices, and telling myself that when the sun comes out in the spring I will be grand,” he explained.
It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulder
But one spring day, when he was about to go out ploughing, he realised he couldn’t leave the house. He then admitted to his mother that he thought he had depression.
“It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulder – I didn’t feel any better, but I knew I was going to get help,” David explains.
Within a few hours he had seen his doctor, with a plan together that included medication, counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy.
According to David, the cognitive behavioural therapy was the thing that really helped him. It essentially looks for practical ways to improve your mind on a daily basis. “When you start to sense something is not right, you have to say ‘stop, something is not right – I have to back it up here,’” he said.
There is a solution for everybody
He is joined on the ABP podcast by Rural Support CEO Veronica Morris, who highlighted that mental and physical health are both equally important. “There is a solution for everybody. It is important to engage with professionals who can help,” she said.
You can listen to the latest ABP podcast www.abpfoodgroup.com/about-us/podcast/. The Rural Support helpline number is 0800 138 1678.
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