Mental health policy omits farmers as a ‘high risk group’
The Department of Health’s policy document on mental health does not recognise farmers, or those in the rural community, as highrisk groups in its ‘Sharing the Vision’ publication. The document was published in September 2020, and while based on consultation with a wide range of people and organisations, does not name any specific group that represented farmers.
A request was sent from Cork County Council to the Department for research into the mental wellbeing of farmers in Cork. The request was sent in April last year, and a reply was received last month, with the matter appearing on the agenda at this month’s Full Council meeting of Cork County Council.
While the request was not admitted, the Department advised that ‘all aspects of mental health services will be improved through the implementation of the national mental health policy’.
The national policy, Sharing the Vision, aims to cover the decade between 2020 and 2030. The Avondhu contacted the Department of Health to ask if members of the farming community had been consulted with when forming this policy.
The Department named several organisations that they had consulted with, including Bodywhys and Jigsaw. They also said they had engaged with “over 1,200 participants… and included service users, family members, carers, peer workers, clinical staff, HSE management and the NGO sector.” However, they did not name any organisation specifically that would represent the experience of farmers.
PRIORITY GROUP
A 2018 HSE report on mental health and middle-aged men had identified being middle-aged and ‘rurally isolated’ as a priority group.
The request for the study into mental wellbeing of farmers in Cork was made off the back of a proposal by Cllr Frank Roche, a long-time campaigner for mental health awareness amongst the rural community.
The ‘Sharing the Vision’ document identified specific groups that are considered ‘at risk’ priority groups, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Traveller community, people who have experienced domestic, clerical, institutional, sexual or physical abuse. Other groups are listed, but no reference is made to the farming community within this document. They did say, however, that the list was not exhaustive.
A report by Teagasc found higher instances of depression in rural communities and amongst men, who were reluctant to contact their GP as ‘they worried about confidentiality when the GP lived in the same locality’. Dependency and normalisation of alcohol abuse was also shown to be a factor, as well as the socio-economic status of the individual.
For support on any of the issues discussed in this article, please contact the following numbers:
Text HELLO to 50808; Samaritans: free phone 116 123 or e-mail jo@samaritans.ie. Equally, The Haven Hub in Mitchelstown can be called or text on 089 2618815, 7pm-11pm every Saturday.