Latest news with #OnFeirmGround
Agriland
7 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
Mental health just as important as physical safety on farms
The Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson Peter 'Chap' Cleere has called for increased awareness of the mental health challenges facing Ireland's farming community. The Carlow–Kilkenny TD has also reaffirmed Fianna Fáil's commitment to supporting farmers' wellbeing through targeted funding and training initiatives. 'Farming is one of the most rewarding careers, but it is also one of the most demanding and isolating. 'Behind the daily tasks and long hours are real people under real pressure facing stress from inspections, price volatility, policy changes, late payments and deep worry about the future of their farms. "In my view, mental health is just as important as physical safety on our farms," Deputy Cleere said. As Farm Safety Week 2025 continues, Deputy Cleere encouraged farmers to take a moment to check in on their own wellbeing and that of their families and neighbours. Recent data from the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention found that 23.4% of farmers are considered at risk of suicide, a figure significantly higher than the general population. 'That's not just a statistic. That's someone's brother, sister, neighbour, or friend. We must treat it with the seriousness it deserves,' Deputy Cleere said. In 2025, €2.5 million is being allocated to safety and mental health initiatives tailored specifically for farmers. Among the initiatives receiving support is 'On Feirm Ground 2', a national training programme that equips agricultural advisers, vets, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) staff, and farm organisation members with the tools to identify and support farmers experiencing mental health issues. 'More than 1,000 people have already taken part in the On Feirm Ground training, and they are now better placed to spot the signs and signpost struggling farmers to appropriate help. "We're building a rural network of awareness and support and that's essential,' Deputy Cleere added. The TD encouraged farmers who are feeling overwhelmed or struggling with their mental health to seek support. 'If you're feeling under pressure or finding it hard to cope, speak to someone, your agricultural adviser, your vet, your local IFA rep. "They can connect you with the right supports. There is no shame in asking for help," Deputy Cleere said.
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Project to strengthen farmers' mental health 'very successful'
A project supporting farmers' mental health has been 'very successful' and a great example of helping men, a Tipperary hurler and academic said. Dr Conor Hammersley is a former Tipperary player and principal investigator in rural mental health at the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health. 'There's good data to say that farmers experience many challenges around their mental health and (it's) one of the highest occupations associated with suicide,' he said. He was part of a team designing a training programme for agricultural advisors so they could help with mental health on top of what they already offer farmers. The idea, he said, was to 'try and meet them (farmers) where they're at and to try and create more supportive networks around mental health'. The 'On Feirm Ground' project – a play on words between the English word firm and the Irish for farm – includes advice on recognising signs of distress in farmers. Speaking on a HSE podcast to mark Men's Health Week, he said: 'From what I can see, it's been very successful'. This tailored focus on one group is 'a great example' of how men's health could be approached, he suggested. 'Too often it's seen that men are just one homogenous group and this is why data is so important and demography is so important,' he said. "When you use data and you use demographics, you can see what communities are in most need of resources to be distributed towards them.' HSE podcast host, Fergal Fox, said: 'Thankfully we've seen the On Feirm Ground programme go from strength to strength.' The advisors welcomed the training, he noted. 'They could see the issues coming up in the farmyard. They were talking to farmers that were stressed out and that they were trying to advise them,' he said. But they could see that their issues were beyond the agri-business or the farming itself. He added this year the Department of Agriculture has increased funding for health, safety, and well-being. 'So there'll be more activities coming out,' he said. Dr Hammersley also plays in New York and was part of their victory in the Lory Meagher Cup last month. He referred to comments by team captain Johnny Glynn in a 'very powerful' interview on The GAA Social podcast earlier this month. The discussion on IVF was "sharing an experience that typically men wouldn't do," he said. 'I'm just thinking back to Johnny Glynn's podcast," he said. "And one of the things that he said since he started to speak about it himself - about the difficulty him and his partner have had with IVF treatment – the amount of men that have come to him with similar experiences." Read More Veterinary Advice: Farmers must reach out for help in this time of hardship
