Teagasc advisers in the west of Ireland have received training from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to develop skills around suicide prevention to help the farmers they work with.

To mark Suicide Prevention Awareness Day taking place on Wednesday 10 September, Teagasc advisers across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon are working with HSE services in the west to raise awareness and learn new ways to help their farmer clients in this regard.

The HSE identified farmers as a priority group to work with because research it conducted in 2023 showed 23% of farmers that responded to a national survey were considered at risk of suicide - that is, they reported having suicidal thoughts and/or urges over the past two weeks.

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Teagasc advisers engage with a large number of farmers on a regular basis and build up good working relationships. They are ideally positioned to signpost them to mental health supports that are available, the HSE said.

To date, 34 Teagasc advisers across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon have completed free online suicide prevention training.

The advisers have also received a resource pack containing further information to help signpost farmers to additional support services.

Let’s Talk About Suicide, the new training resource, helps people to develop their skills to keep others safe from suicide.

It helps identify people who may be at risk, to confidently broach the subject of suicide and connect them with resources that can help them stay safe.

Response

HSE west and north senior health promotion officer Seán Conneely said the response from Teagasc agricultural advisers has been “fantastic”.

“All the advisers were very interested in the initiative and, when talking to them, I could see that they really cared about their clients and were eager to learn more about suicide prevention and mental health,” he said.

Feedback from participating Teagasc advisers has also been very positive. One adviser said: “This course enhanced my awareness, lessened the stigma associated with mental health and equipped me as an adviser to act with knowledge and compassion.”

Another added that they found the course very informative: “[It] has definitely changed the way I would approach a situation where someone was presenting as potentially suicidal.

“The biggest takeaway for me was to listen more and validate how they are feeling rather than persuade them that things are not that bad.”

It is hoped that more Teagasc advisers in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon will complete the online programme.

While this initiative involved Teagasc advisers, anyone over the age of 18 years can complete this free online course available from traininghub.nosp.ie.

For further information on mental health supports, visit www.westbewell.ie.