One in four farmers faces burnout - TD
One in four farmers faces the risk of burnout, according to Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, Peter 'Chap' Cleere.
Deputy Cleere was one of several TDs who raised concerns about farmers' mental health, and the supports available to them, in the Dáil yesterday (April 2).
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said that farm safety, health, and well-being is a "priority" for the government.
Deputy Cleere also discussed a survey carried out by Dublin City University's (DCU) farm health project last year that exposed "worrying trends" in farmers' mental health.
He said: "In a survey of 351 farmers, 71% said they would seek professional help if they were experiencing a mental health challenge but 54% do not know how to contact the local mental health clinic.
"Some 25% do not know where to go to receive health services; 24% do not know how to get the number of a suicide prevention hotline and 22% do not know where to get information about mental illness.
"Farmers feel that the mental health supports that are available are often unsuitable for farmers."
Minister Heydon believes that the Covid-19 pandemic took away the key social engagements that farmers really depended upon.
He also said that €2.5 million had been "dedicated" to build on previous efforts the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) made to improve the safety, health and well-being of the farming community.
This funding will be used for the continuation of existing initiatives and to develop further initiatives for 2025.
Minister Heydon also spoke about his time working on his home farm.
He said: "The work is isolated in nature. I know that from my time farming at home. The days were long.
"If I was in the tractor on my own all day doing a job or out tending to fencing or to livestock, I could have too much time with my own thoughts.
"It does not happen in politics much; we tend to be much busier and kept well distracted.
"I am being flippant about what is a very serious issue here. The truth is that there is that isolated nature of the challenges, and if that person tends to live on their own or does not have the family support network, it can be an even greater risk."
The minister believes that farmers may not realise the pressure that they are under.
He told the Dáil: "In many respects what we are talking about here is the people themselves identifying that they are under pressure.
"They might not realise that the fact that they have not been sleeping right or that they are not eating right has all contributed to this build-up."
