The Cow Whisperer
Nature, Cows & Mental Health in Engineering
A calm, non-clinical side project

A quiet field for Nature, Cows and calmer minds.

The Cow Whisperer is a gentle space where fields, Cows, Bulls, farm Animals and simple outdoor rituals meet the reality of Mental Health in Engineering and offshore work — without judgement, and without pretending that a walk in a field fixes everything.

For Engineers, Technicians & project people Nature & Cows as grounding tools Reflections, not prescriptions
Email the Official Cow Whisperer ↗

You can email any time at hello@savingenergy.com. If you would like to talk, ask for the Official Cow Whisperer, Darren Emery M.Sc., and say you would like a call. Please include your contact details and a good time to talk. Darren will do his best to arrange a call. You do not have to carry everything alone.

Mental Health in Engineering — the honest picture

The UK Engineering industry lives with a serious Mental Health problem. Demanding deadlines, heavy workloads, long hours and project pressure sit on top of job insecurity and a culture that still tells many men to “get on with it” instead of asking for help.

  • High stress and burnout from constant deadlines, long shifts and heavy responsibility.
  • Depression and anxiety linked to project pressure, safety-critical decisions and job uncertainty.
  • Isolation and loneliness on remote sites, offshore work and long spells away from home.
  • A “tough guy” culture where showing fear or strain is treated as weakness.
Behind the numbers are real people: many Engineers report moderate to extreme job stress, a lot do not feel comfortable talking about it at work, and a worrying number of male Engineers have experienced suicidal thoughts. Culture, workload and silence all play a part. You are not weak for feeling it.

Offshore, fear and being sent home

Offshore work makes all of this even louder. It is not just the job, it is the travel, the separation from home and the feeling you have to be “ready for anything” all the time.

  • People being sent home from the platform with Mental Health issues, week after week.
  • Colleagues meeting at the train station already terrified about going offshore, before the helicopter is even in sight.
  • Trying to hold it together in the cabin, the control room or the galley because you do not want to be “the one who cracked”.

If any part of this sounds familiar, you are not broken. You are a human nervous system reacting to a very tough environment. Being frightened or overwhelmed does not make you less of an Engineer or less of a person.

From Darren Emery M.Sc. — Engineer & former offshore worker
I spent around five years working offshore. I have seen people sent home with Mental Health issues. I have seen the fear in people’s faces at the train station before a trip. I also reached a point where I needed help myself. I went to Therapy, and I am not going to lie — it helped me and probably saved me. If Therapy, talking to a GP, or speaking to a professional is an option for you, please consider it. It is not weakness. It is maintenance.

Why Cows, Bulls, fields and farm Animals?

The Cow Whisperer does not pretend that standing by a fence is a cure for depression or suicidal thoughts. But Nature and Animals can give the mind something solid and quiet to hold on to when work and life feel loud.

  • Grounding: counting Cows, watching a Bull breathe, or noticing how many shades of green live in one field can interrupt a spiral of racing thoughts, even for a few minutes.
  • Perspective: the herd is not rushing to hit a milestone. Weather changes, grass grows slowly, and not everything is an emergency.
  • Simple rituals: ten minutes by a gate, three slower breaths before walking into a control room, or a short walk at lunch can become small acts of Mindfulness.

For Engineers, Technicians and project people

If you have ever sat in a site car park, a welfare cabin, a hotel room after shift or at the station before going offshore and thought:

  • “I am not sure I can do this pace much longer.”
  • “Everyone thinks I am coping. I am not.”
  • “I am scared to go, but I do not know who I can tell.”

then this field is for you. You are not weak, and you are not alone. Noticing that a system is close to failure is what good Engineers do. Reaching out for help — whether to a professional, a helpline or another Engineer — is preventive maintenance, not personal failure.

Part of a wider ecosystem

The Cow Whisperer is one small, quiet corner in a family of projects led by Darren Emery M.Sc., bringing together Engineering, Energy, Food, Culture and Mental Health:

Questions humans often ask

Is this scientific or clinical?
No. This is storytelling, reflection, a human ear and signposting. It sits alongside proper clinical support — it does not replace it.
What if I am really struggling?
If you are feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or having thoughts of harming yourself, please treat that as urgent. Speak to your GP, call an appropriate crisis or helpline service in your country, talk to someone you trust, or use any support channels available through your employer or union. You do not have to handle it alone.
Can I talk to Darren directly?
Yes. You can email hello@savingenergy.com at any time with “The Cow Whisperer” in the subject line. If you would like to talk, ask for the Official Cow Whisperer, Darren Emery M.Sc., to call you and include your contact details and a good time to talk. Darren will do his best to arrange a call. This is not a crisis service, but sometimes it helps simply to hear another Engineer say “you are not the only one”.