As I sat down to write this week’s column, I grabbed my cardigan from the wardrobe. There’s a nip in the air and I’m noticing the sun setting earlier these days. The trees are developing those autumnal golden hues and next week’s National Ploughing Championships confirms another summer has passed.

Myself, I’m a fan of the cosy evenings but I know for others, winter can be challenging. That’s why health, and particularly, mental health will be a focus once again at this year’s Irish Farmers Journal stand.

Last year, we had our ‘Break the Cycle’ campaign where staff and readers cycled to raise awareness of the mental health challenges facing the farming community. This year, Dave and Michael Kennedy will be on our stand, proving that you don’t need a fancy gym subscription to exercise. As Michael says in their interview on page 10, you’ll look at a hitch and a barrel, and some buckets of meal in a whole new light.

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We’ll also have talks where the brothers will be discussing the importance of staying fit and healthy, as part of our ‘Strong Body, Strong Mind’ campaign. It’s important to talk because farmers are more susceptible to stress. Government policy, concerns over the future of the farm, income worries and isolation – these have all been identified as contributing factors to suicide.

And sometimes, it can feel like we’re hearing of people struggling mentally or dying by suicide more and more – I certainly feel that way. But here’s a promising statistic. A report presented by Mary Butler TD to the Government in May showed that Ireland has seen a 28% reduction in the rate of suicide in the last two decades. What has changed during this time? The stigma around mental health has changed, people are more open to reaching out for help – and saying out loud that you’re struggling doesn’t have the taboo it once had.

Sometimes, it can feel like we’re hearing of people struggling mentally or dying by suicide more and more – I certainly feel that way

If you’re finding things hard at the moment, talking about your problems helps – as does a change of scenery and some time for yourself. Last year at the Ploughing, I was chatting to a farmer visiting our stand. We started off with the number one talking point of last year’s event, the fabulous weather. As our conversation progressed, he told me that he hadn’t planned to attend the Ploughing for all the usual reasons – he was too busy on the farm, he didn’t want to be stuck in traffic and then he admitted, he had been going through a tough time.

However, he changed his mind at the last minute, and I think he even surprised himself by how his mood had improved. The sun was shining, the traffic wasn’t as bad as he expected, and he even bumped into a few old friends. He realised that it was just what he needed; the day out lifted his spirits.

If you’re feeling lonely, or you’re struggling at the moment and you’re dreading the thought of the winter, I hope this column might inspire you to get in the car, have a day out, and it, too, may lift your spirits.

Hopefully, we’ll see you there.