The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Are Ewe Okay? wins accolade
A mental health awareness campaign run by the organisation representing Scottish young farmers has been recognised at a national awards ceremony.
The Are Ewe Okay? campaign, run by the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC), received the Farming Hero Award at the British Farming Awards in Birmingham.
The award, sponsored by Volac, recognises a group which strives to make a positive difference to the lives of people during times of uncertainty or adversity.
The Are Ewe Okay? campaign was launched by SAYFC in May last year during mental health awareness week.
It sets out to raise awareness of poor mental health and point youngsters in the direction of where to get help.
“We had noticed an ever-prominent number of cases within our members, therefore it was an issue we felt we had to address,” said SAYFC chief executive Penny Montgomerie.
She said that within the agricultural industry there was still a stigma attached to mental illness – something the campaign sets out to address.
SAYFC Grampian regional events manager Joanna Foubister, who manages the campaign, said: “We know one in four people in Scotland will suffer from poor mental health so we predominantly launched the campaign for our members.
“But, through this fantastic opportunity and exposure from this award, it will enable us to reach a greater audience and ultimately spreading awareness of the cause is one of our key objectives.”