See Change will be at the National Ploughing Championships from 25th-27th September to encourage open discussion of mental health problems among the farming community and tackle stigma.
Come chat to us at stand N426.
Building on the campaign’s established and active partnership with the Irish Farmers Association, See Change has been joined by the other major organisations in Irish farming including Macra na Feirme, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association; all with the goal of working together on a shared commitment to encourage openness and discussion around mental health problems among Irish farmers.
See Change is committed to working closely with Ireland’s farmers after research commissioned by the campaign on ‘Public Attitudes Towards Mental Health Problems’ identified that the stigma surrounding mental health problems acts as a significant issue for Irish farmers, often preventing people from seeking the help that they need.
See Change’s ‘Public Attitudes Towards Mental Health Problems’ a study commissioned by Millward Brown Landsdowne, found that a significant 57% of Irish farmers surveyed would not want others to know if they had a mental health problem, and 42% of farmers would hide a diagnosis of a mental health problem from friends. 45% of farmers would not know what to do to help someone with mental health problems, and 27% would delay seeking help for fear of someone knowing about it.
See Change will be distributing the “Let’s Talk” resource for farmers on dealing with the particular pressures of farm life and seeking help and support, produced by in conjunction with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) which was launched by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, TD and Minister with responsibility for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch TD last November.
See Change is working closely with the IFA, Macra, ICMSA, ICSA and other groups with bases in rural communities to explore ways in which farmers can be supported and this stigma can be addressed. As well as a presence at the National Ploughing Championships, See Change has reached out to the farming community at the National Sheep Sheering Championships and Tullamore Show as well as speaking at a nationwide series of regional IFA meetings to promote greater awareness of mental health problems and services.
