Keynote speaker at Digital Trust Europe, ESG World Forum
On Mental health, performance productivity & ESG – they really are vitally connected!
Good Mental Health and ESG
I was an interviewee for GRC World Forum article May 2022. They fit together nicely.
Hat’s off to The British Association for Equine Dental Technicians
Mental Health Awareness Week 2022
Riders Minds launched its Head First campaign in conjunction with Charles Own’s research. Honoured to produce the pioneering concussion checker. Here’s my my contribution to its loneliness theme.
For February 2022 Time to Talk Day
I was proud to host two more insightful conversations with This Can Ambassadors taking an alternative approach: why don’t we talk with Jack Ellis and Natalie Curtis.
Also feel free to take a look at the videos below:
For Children’s Mental Health Week February 2022
Sharing City Mental Health Alliance freely available to all excellent Parents ToolKit
Riders Minds at This Can Happen Retreat
Delighted to have masterminded Victoria Wright, RidersMinds’ Chair to be a keynote speaker at this inaugural event!
Young Riders Mental Health
Proud to contribute to Horse and Hound’s profound article.
A fourth, and topical, ‘In conversation’
….with fellow This Can Happen Ambassadors on burnout.
Watch the video below.
Riders Minds made ITV News!!!
Featuring in their piece on mental health services for rural communities.
Riders Minds reach
….continues to expand with increased social channels’ followship, and more equestrian disciplines’ websites showcasing and signposting our services. Eg. The Showing Council, Haddon Training, Endurance GB. We’re aiming for global reach in 2022 so watch this space or better still, sign up to Riders Minds’ social channels.
Reflections: Personal Injury
…mental health vulnerability and fortitude.
I recently had an accident. Nothing broken but seriously injured. Couldn’t walk. Excruciating pain. Completely incapacitated. Marooned downstairs as stairs impossible. Crawled through gritted teeth, dragging injured leg for the most essential things. Estimated recovery 6-8 weeks. Fed up after only 3.
So what? readers may think. Well, I’m sharing to simply raise awareness how easy slipping/sliding down the #mentalhealth continuum towards poor mental health could be.
My work includes encouraging people to look after their mental health as they do their physical health; understand their co-dependency; spot physiological, behaviour, mood, character etc etc changes; advocate preventative measures as well as curative; how the unforeseen can affect even those who claim “I’m not the type to have mental illness”.
Well, I lived what I advocate but still had several ‘bad days’. If I wasn’t the self-aware person I am, with mental fortitude, bounceback-ability, I believe things could’ve easily become more than ‘a bad day’. Pain management, thinking and planning every single, simple, move was exhausting. Isolated, immobile and alone for much of the day; my partner still had things to do. Beloved, well being activities impossible. My freedom compromised.
I’m a strong, independent person. I also know I’m many people’s go-to person yet, that doesn’t mean I’m always OK. When roles reversed, where were my mine was interesting. Some friends ‘spotted’, sensed, or heard my 'brave face' and I wasn’t OK. Their kindness, support and help truly overwhelming. Same for people I didn’t know that well, blown away by their concern. Thank goodness for them all; for tech to keep in touch; the Olympics on TV, and a wonderful partner. I was disappointed too by others I thought close, who I sensed waited for their time /turn to talk rather than listen and hear me.
Anyway, a lived experience of how vulnerable – able to be hurt, physically, mentally, holistically – humans are, even tough ones! How conversations, keeping connected, simple #actsofkindness, kind words, #compassion and #encouragement; asking, asking twice even thrice how someone is, and meaning it!; properly listening; and for me, accepting help, kindness and one’s vulnerability (although that took some getting used to!) made the difference.
With #worldsuicidepreventionday and #worldmentalhealthday just passed, and #WorldKindnessDay next month, I’m reminded of the phrase ‘just because we carry it [well], doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy’. We cannot see someone’s story, but we can always simply and genuinely ask #howareyou ? and, moreover, listen.
10th September’s World Suicide Prevention Day
Saw me appearing in Riders Minds’ poignant documentary (I’m interviewed at 37.05 minutes). Widespread media coverage too, including Horse and Hound article.
In honest conversation with fellow This Can Happen Ambassadors in our third ‘In conversation, …speaking at Bank of New York Mellon’s global webinar.
Another insightful Culture Vision Risk collaboration
On a really interesting topic for today’s changing face of the workplace, and well worth a listen!
“In conversation” with This Can Happen Ambassadors
Check out our first two in our inaugural series where we’ll talk frankly about various topics. First overcoming stigma, and the second on mental health & workplace culture.
Watch the videos below.
A podcast!.......
For Global Risk Community with leading risk management and HR experts showcasing Mental Health as, and is, a business matter; it’s a workplace asset and a ‘people’ risk.
Horse & Hound magazine celebrates Riders Minds’ success!
….and what it means to its founders and the equestrian community.
Blown away on 24 June 2021…..WE WON!!
Riders Minds not only won its category best Mental Targeted Mental Health Initiative at This Can Happen awards 2021, against powerhouses such as Walt Disney Corp and Bloomberg, but Grand Prix Award winner too!!
I’m so grateful my application was even considered, not being from a conventional workplace, and thrilled at this feedback from the illustrious judges!
Mental Health: a Business Asset
Really looking forward to this webinar collaboration with leaders in Risk and HR.