See Change and a host of farming and community organisations are working together to send a message loud and clear to Irish farmers at the National Ploughing Championships that there is strength in talking.

See Change in partnership with the Irish Farmers Association, Macra na Feirme, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, the Irish Countrywomens’ Association and Teagasc will be distributing free wallet-sized “Talking Cards” to the 200,000 Ploughing attendees that feature straight-talking advice aimed at taking the fear out of talking about mental health and encouraging open discussion.

3 days, 200,000 attendees, 7 organisations: 1 message:

Print your own Talking Cards to cut out and hand out among your friends family and local community.

• Find us at the National Ploughing Championships, 23rd-25th September, Ratheniska, Co. Laois. Stand No. 301 Row 21 Block 2 (Health and Safety Authority tent.)

Why are Irish Farmers a key target group for the See Change campaign?

Research commissioned by the See Change partnership in 2012 on ‘Public Attitudes Towards Mental Health Problems’ identified farmers as a group where stigma is most strongly felt, often to the extent that it prevents Irish farmers from seeking the help that they need. Here are some of the key findings:

 Source: Millward-Browne/ Landsdowne, Public attitudes to mental health problems in Ireland: A benchmark study, See Change, 2012)