‘Our farmers need to know who to turn to’

Campaign: Mental health support

The National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) has backed a campaign to support farmers with mental health problems.

The commitment comes after a survey of 250 farmers, carried out by NHS Grampian’s healthy working lives team, revealed almost half wanted more support and information about stress, anxiety and depression.

Lorna Paterson, NFUS north-east regional manager, said yesterday the issue of mental health needs to be tackled.

“This is an issue that sometimes only comes to light when there is a fatality in farming, so it has to be addressed,” she said.

Ken Gilbert, Aberdeenshire farmer and National Pig and Poultry chairman, said he thought the nature of farming makes it all to easy for farmers to become depressed and contemplate suicide.

He said: “There is a mental health problem in rural areas that is not seen.

“You work long hours on a farm, often by yourself, and prices are volatile so you are not sure if you’re going to make any money or not.

“And if you are working long hours and not making any money it can be very stressful. That means the ability is there to commit suicide as a farmer because many have got firearms, machinery, poison and chemicals.”

NHS Grampian carried out the survey because they are interested in how people’s working environment affects their health.

In response to the survey, the health board – in conjunction with NFUS – has launched the Know Who To Turn To campaign.

It aims to make farmers aware of where they can get help and support about mental health issues.

Chris Littlejohn, interim deputy director of public health at NHS Grampian, said: “The key messages for the farming community are: be aware of how you feel, be aware of signs of stress, low mood and pressure, realise you are not alone and actually many people feel like this.

“Farmers can speak to people for free and in confidence about how they are feeling and it’s better to do that sooner rather than later.”

Mrs Paterson hopes that the campaign will lead to more farmers seeking help if they are suffering.

Photograph: Jim Irvine CONCERN: Chris Littlejohn and Lorna Paterson launch the Know Who To Turn To campaign.