While beekeepers are generally a resilient bunch, we can all feel overwhelmed, busy, or stressed out. There are many options for support and we have included a range of tools and services below which are relevant to beekeepers who are a vital part of the rural community.
USEFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
This recent article from The New Zealand BeeKeeper journal explores options and strategies to ensure resilience and adaptability in the face of current industry challenges.
STAYING MATCH-FIT with SAM WHITELOCK
In July 2023 webinar rugby player Sam Whitelock shared with the apiculture sector his own experience with managing the pressures of high performance sport and how he stays match-fit throughout the season.
His thoughts on maintaining both physical and mental wellbeing through stressful and difficult times are an excellent resource for anyone in the apiculture industry and beyond.
In these two short videos, Farmstrong Ambassador Sam Whitelock and Taranaki dairy farmer Kane Brisco talk about how they manage negative thoughts.
“The biggest thing is actively practising having a positive mindset and catching your negative thoughts and dealing with them… It’s a skill that anyone can learn and the more you do it the better you get at it… A lot of it is catching those negative thoughts but putting the truth into it because they are not true a lot of the time. ” Kane Brisco.
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP
This is an excellent website with podcasts, videos and pdfs on everything from injury prevention and sleeping tips to healthy thinking and stress management.
Rural Support Trusts have local, rural people who know from experience that pressures can mount up. Their regional trusts provide people in your area that you can talk to about adverse events, health and wellbeing and financial pressures.
