Young farmers tackle mental health ‘stigma’
MENTAL health can be a tough topic to confront but Eryri and Anglesey young farmers are determined to tackle the subject head on.
Concerned at this silent threat to farming and rural communities, the two YFC federations hosted a joint awareness evening at the Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge.
Speaking about their experiences of mental health issues were Ffermio presenter Alun Elidyr, of Cae Coch, Rhydymain, and TV producer Stephen Hughes from Cardiff but originally from Bwchanan farm, Llanfechell.
Both have become formidable spokesmen on mental health issues – Alun having suffered from depression and Stephen from suicide, having lost his father this way.
Levels of depression in the industry are thought to be increasing and suicide rates in Britain’s farmers are among the highest of any occupation.
For livestock farmers, suicide rates are almost twice the national average. Eryri YFC chair Miriam Williams said the event was an attempt to “break the stigma of mental health”.
“With the agricultural sector losing at least one person to mental health each week, we have to be proactive in spreading the message that there is always someone there to speak to,” she added.
● Also held on the night was a charity auction presided over by Gaerwen auctioneers Morgan Evans.
This raised an impressive £2,000, which will be shared between Wales Air Ambulance, Mind (Ynys Môn and Gwynedd), and both YFC federations.