Workshop helps farmers open up on mental health
TWO North Tipperary Macra members and dairy farmers are making it their mission to improve awareness around mental health for people in rural areas.
Three years ago, John Keane came home after a stint working in New Zealand to run his dairy farm on the Tipperary and Laois border. He decided to join Macra as a lot of his friends “had moved on” and he thought it would be a good social outlet.
A year-and-a-half later, Johnny Dwyer returned home to run his dairy farm with his parents after completing a business degree. He had similar reasons to John for joining, although he admits he was initially reluctant.
“My parents had been hugely involved in Macra. I was going against the idea at the start but then decided to join,” he says.
“A lot of our friends had moved from home. I found Macra a great way to meet people and it helped my personal development hugely.”
Aware of the isolation that people can feel in the countryside, Johnny got in touch with AnnMarie Crosse who works for Healthy Ireland in the HSE to try to create an initiative that can help farmers talk about their own health and well-being.
“We both know people who have passed away due to suicide or people who are suffering from depression,” says Johnny.
“It’s easy to point the finger and say it’s just young people or people living in certain areas who suffer from mental issues, but it’s across the board.”
In an effort to stem the stigma around mental health, the two lads held the Make Farmers Moove — Farmers Matter workshop in Racket Hall, Roscrea last Thursday.
The objective of the two-hour session was to identify the needs of farmers, to explore opportunities for action and to support the development of social networks.
John says the meeting was a success and that the highlight of the night was a talk by Camross Macra member and reigning Mr Personality Anthony Culleton, who opened up about his own mental health issues.
“He spoke about his struggles with OCD, and farmer David Kerr also spoke about his battle with depression. What came from the meeting was that there comes a time when people hit age 35-40, when Macra and GAA finishes for them, and they need a social outlet,” adds John.
“Farmers spoke about the stress that Department visits can have on them and Brexit. We couldn’t get over how many people on the night opened up.
“We hope to hold other meetings in other Macra clubs in the coming months and really start something positive.”