Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the IFA deputy president said many farmers are slow to seek help due to cultural norms around stoicism, combined with limited access to services in rural areas, meaning that emotional distress often goes unspoken and untreated.

“Farmers face unique stressors: financial pressures, market uncertainty, isolation, regulatory complexity, unpredictable weather, and the emotional weight of maintaining a family legacy. There is no ‘clocking out’, and very little room for rest,” she said.

“A farmer struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression is more at risk of making unsafe decisions, more likely to withdraw socially and less likely to engage with services that could help improve their farm and their life.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Good mental health leads to better judgement, stronger relationships, and more sustainable farming practices. If we want a healthy farming sector, we need to support healthy farmers,” the IFA deputy president added.

IFA farm family and social affairs chair Teresa Roche said initiatives to raise awareness, train agricultural advisers in mental health literacy, and provide better access to rural services are extremely important.

However, she said we now need to move beyond recognition. We need action that is co-ordinated, properly funded, and grounded in what farmers themselves are telling us.

Mental wellbeing

“That begins with treating mental wellbeing as a core part of agricultural sustainability. It means ensuring that services are not only available, but accessible in terms of time, location, and cultural fit,” Teresa Roche continued.

“Crucially, it means involving farmers directly in the design and delivery of those supports, so that nothing feels imposed or out of touch with their lived experience,” she added.