A Donegal farmer is urging farmers to talk about their mental health problems, after losing his father to suicide.

“My dad died by suicide one year and nine months ago,” the farmer told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“I found him in an old shed. He was dead when I got to him. I had to leave him to get help to get him down. They tried to resuscitate him, but he was gone.

“I knew he was struggling but not that much – you just never know how someone else is.”

The farmer said that his father was worried about their farm and their uncle, who had motor neurone disease, but he didn’t realise the extent to which his father was concerned.

“My dad was a small sheep farmer with about 80 ewes. He got depressed, not eating or sleeping, always on the go. He was worried about losing his pension because my uncle was leaving machinery and land to him. He was worrying about having too many sheep and everything else.

“As a result, he took his own life. There are a lot of farmers out there in financial difficulty and also depressed due to working alone on the farm and not having anyone to talk to.

“They can’t express their true feelings, and are often told they are weak, or to man up, or cop yourself on, if they do.”

The farmer made a plea to other farmers to support each other and open up to family or friends if they are experiencing mental health problems.

Mental health services

There are several organisations who can help people discuss mental health issues:

Samaritans – 116 123

Aware – 1800 80 4848

Pieta House - 1800 247 247

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