The Minister of Agriculture has said that he wants farmer mental health to be addressed “at every engagement”, including with the AI man or at milk collections.
Martin Heydon was responding to a question from Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan in relation to available supports and programmes for farmers around mental health and well-being.
A study from Farming Minds in University College Dublin found that 23.4% of farmers are considered at risk of suicide, 50% of farmers are currently experiencing moderate to extremely severe depression and almost 40% of farmers are experiencing moderate to extremely severe anxiety and stress.
Minister Heydon said that he wants taking care of mental health to part of farmers’ everyday life.
“I am looking at every engagement farmers have, whether on the farm when someone like the AI man, the milk collection, the vet or the farm adviser visits or on the knowledge transfer walks,” he said.
“This is not about having a day when farmers go to talk about their mental health; it is about incorporating it into everything they do. That is key.”
Mental health
A different study by Dublin City University and Teagasc revealed that in a survey of 351 farmers, 71% said they would seek professional help if they were experiencing a mental health challenge, but 54% do not know how to contact the local mental health clinic.
In addition, responding to Fine Gael TD Colm Burke, Minister Heydon acknowledged the lonely job that farming can be.
“The work is isolated in nature. I know that from my time farming at home. The days were long,” he said.
“If I was in the tractor on my own all day doing a job or out tending to fencing or to livestock, I could have too much time with my own thoughts, I used to find.
“As regards the fund available to the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, this year, I know he is looking at a number of projects there around engagement and social isolation and to support farmers in their mental health.”
Initiatives
The Department co-funds the On Feirm Ground 2 programme to provide training for agricultural advisers, vets, Department staff, members of farming organisations and other agricultural professionals and service providers, to signpost farmers to health and well-being supports.
Frank Feighan, Sean Cooke and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon at the launch of Farm Safety and New Market Development. \ Ryan Byrne, Inpho
It also supports the research into farmer mental health, such as the DCU-led FarMHealth research project, which examined farmers' mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviour, and the UCD-led Farming Minds: Developing evidence-based interventions to enhance farmer mental health.
The Health and Safety Authority will be distributing Guidance on Managing Fatigue with Farm Work booklets in the 2025 BISS packs.
The Minister also committed along with Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae that further initiatives will be announced this year.
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The Minister of Agriculture has said that he wants farmer mental health to be addressed “at every engagement”, including with the AI man or at milk collections.
Martin Heydon was responding to a question from Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan in relation to available supports and programmes for farmers around mental health and well-being.
A study from Farming Minds in University College Dublin found that 23.4% of farmers are considered at risk of suicide, 50% of farmers are currently experiencing moderate to extremely severe depression and almost 40% of farmers are experiencing moderate to extremely severe anxiety and stress.
Minister Heydon said that he wants taking care of mental health to part of farmers’ everyday life.
“I am looking at every engagement farmers have, whether on the farm when someone like the AI man, the milk collection, the vet or the farm adviser visits or on the knowledge transfer walks,” he said.
“This is not about having a day when farmers go to talk about their mental health; it is about incorporating it into everything they do. That is key.”
Mental health
A different study by Dublin City University and Teagasc revealed that in a survey of 351 farmers, 71% said they would seek professional help if they were experiencing a mental health challenge, but 54% do not know how to contact the local mental health clinic.
In addition, responding to Fine Gael TD Colm Burke, Minister Heydon acknowledged the lonely job that farming can be.
“The work is isolated in nature. I know that from my time farming at home. The days were long,” he said.
“If I was in the tractor on my own all day doing a job or out tending to fencing or to livestock, I could have too much time with my own thoughts, I used to find.
“As regards the fund available to the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, this year, I know he is looking at a number of projects there around engagement and social isolation and to support farmers in their mental health.”
Initiatives
The Department co-funds the On Feirm Ground 2 programme to provide training for agricultural advisers, vets, Department staff, members of farming organisations and other agricultural professionals and service providers, to signpost farmers to health and well-being supports.
Frank Feighan, Sean Cooke and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon at the launch of Farm Safety and New Market Development. \ Ryan Byrne, Inpho
It also supports the research into farmer mental health, such as the DCU-led FarMHealth research project, which examined farmers' mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviour, and the UCD-led Farming Minds: Developing evidence-based interventions to enhance farmer mental health.
The Health and Safety Authority will be distributing Guidance on Managing Fatigue with Farm Work booklets in the 2025 BISS packs.
The Minister also committed along with Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae that further initiatives will be announced this year.
Read more
Minding yourself, as well as your horses
Inclusion and mental health supports top of students’ career wishlist
Request for views from farmers: mental health matters
Over 1,200 health checks completed under IFA pilot project
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