“Farmers are exposed to a lot of work pressures and often find themselves working long hours alone. This can lead to isolation and mental health issues which is a real concern for so many people living in rural Ireland”, says Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon.
He was speaking at the launch of a rural mental health campaign on Peter and Paula Hynes’ dairy farm in Aherla, Co. Cork. The campaign will see the partnership of Samaritans and dairy co-ops. The collaboration will see around 500 trucks owned by milk processors who are members of Dairy Industry Ireland feature Samaritans’ helpline signage on the trucks.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the Samaritans freephone number – 116 123 – among farmers and other people in rural Ireland, particularly those living or working in isolation. The minister says “this initiative could make a real difference in reaching those who need support most and I want to commend the leadership shown by all those involved.”
Peter Hynes, who established AgMentalHealthWeek with his wife Paula, says “farming is a demanding and tough occupation for some. Ensuring we highlight the importance of reaching out for support in times of crisis is crucial and the greatest way to reduce stigma around mental health and suicide is through a united voice.”
Samaritans deputy regional director, Aileen Spitere says the initiative will target those “hard-to-reach groups” who are often most at risk of loneliness and isolation.
LSL News.