JCIP #312 - Neil Peters

In episode 312 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Neil Peters. Neil is the Founder of Nuthatch Consultants, a suicide prevention and consultancy which works with public health, charities and business to reduce suicide and improve mental wellbeing.As part of Nuthatch, Neil also runs Nuthatch Retreats.Nuthatch Retreats uses nature to support people’s wellbeing, creating opportunities for people to get outside and take part in activities such as mindfulness and forest bathing.Prior to starting Nuthatch, Neil worked at the Samaritans charity for 10 years, before leaving them in 2020 when he had the desire to use nature and the outdoors to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.In this episode we chart the journey of Nuthatch and the work they provide for their service users, what his retreats offer in-depth and his most recent work with fathers.For Neil’s mental health, his mental health difficulties started after he had got married and become a father when he began experiencing low level anxiety and depression. He stopped using some of the release valves which had previously been working for him, like playing sport, being outside and seeing his friends.In 2017 he accessed the Samaritan’s in-house counselling service, and in 2022/2023 he accessed a ‘walking therapist’ as well. We explore why that walking therapist was helpful for him vs sit-down traditional therapy, how that could work as a method for more men as it utilises the walk and talk and where he is now with his mental health.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can find out more about Nuthatch Retreats here: https://linktr.ee/nuthatchretreatsYou can follow them on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuthatchretreats/Support Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukPayPal: paypal.me/freddiec1994?country.x=GB&locale.x=en_GBMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkSupport Us:PatreonPayPalMerchandise