Urgent plea for mental health supports for farmers
According to Castletownroche-based Councillor Frank Roche, 12 people from farming backgrounds in the region have died by suicide since November 1.
The councillor is now calling for more supports to be put in place and for something to be done within legal systems to ‘stop corruption’.
“Something has to be done on mental health for farmers because we are going to have an awful lot more of this. We must highlight this. How many more will have to die before something is done about this?” Cllr Roche urged.
His most recent appeal comes following the tragic deaths of the three Hennessy brothers in Mitchelstown on Thursday/Friday.
It is understood that many farmers have been contacting Cllr Roche regarding farming-related issues, as the councillor claims ‘ they have nowhere else to go’.
“I grew up on a farm. I’m from a farming background, I’m dealing with farmers every day. I know the problems.
“People spoke to me because they were having issues on farms and they came to me to have this conversation, but unfortunately, 12 of them are dead,” he claims.
Cllr Roche alleges that financial stress and the legal system are two of the main contributors to the mental health issues that many farmers are struggling with.
“People are trying to handle the financial burden and the stress of taking over and handling a farm. The problem with the whole thing is that land is too valuable, yet people are not able to generate an income from it. It’s a valuable asset, but it’s not creating an income for them,” he said.
LACK OF SUPPORT
He went on to claim that many families are ‘destroyed’, resulting from the legal process involved with farm inheritance.
“We have a lack of support in our legal system and that is the greatest downfall. Farmers are taken to court and played away with until they’re completely broken,” Cllr Roche claimed.
When TheAvondhu highlighted the issue previously, Cllr Roche called for the State to intervene in difficult domestic situations to help prevent further suicides, while at the Cork County Joint Policing Committee meeting, he said he feared that there would be more deaths if strong action is not taken.
At the time, the Chief Superintendent of the Cork North Division, Tom Myers refused to comment on the matter.
TheAvondhu can confirm that there are detailed mental health and domestic abuse training modules in the Garda Training College in Templemore, to deal with these issues as well as published operational protocols in regard to both issues.
‘TABOO SUBJECT’
Cllr Roche claims that he has since made phone calls to the Superintendent multiple times, however, says he has not received any answer.
“None of them would talk to me because I was asking questions they couldn’t answer,” he alleges.
Stating that many farmers are reluctant to contact gardaí when dealing with issues, he is now calling for farming organisations and advisors to get involved and put in place the necessary supports.
“It’s a taboo subject (suicide/mental health), but we have to start talking about it because the whole place is affected by it. Many people are afraid to bring it up, but the reality of it is that people aren’t being looked after.
“It might take two or three years to get something up and running, but it will save a lot of lives,” Cllr Roche said.
SUPPORT
Pieta House offers a Freephone support counselling service on 1800 247 247, which is available 24 hours a day or a text-based support service by texting help to 51444.
Mental Health Ireland offers information and support for people who experience mental health difficulties. Contact info@mentalhealthireland.ie or call their information line on 01 284 116 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.