Coming out the other side of mental illness is the inspirational story told by Doug Avery – a challenge for everyone to recognise and admit when they have a problem, and not to be afraid to seek help.

“Life is a journey of peaks and valleys, but I had never been taught to manage my valleys,” Avery told attendees at the Rethinking Rural conference held in Cookstown on Monday.

Listen to "Doug Avery, author of The Resilient Farmer, speaks to David Wright, Northern editor" on Spreaker.

Organised by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, along with local charity Rural Support, Avery outlined his story ahead of his speaking tour taking place across four NI venues this week.

It all began for the New Zealand beef and sheep farmer when a drought hit in 1997, which turned into the worst drought ever recorded, lasting eight years. During that period, Avery was forced to buy expensive feed and cut numbers, leaving the business with effectively no income.

“Three years in I was broken,” said Avery. He turned to alcohol to “numb the pain” of not being able to provide a decent income for his family, and in total spent five years suffering with depression.

Recovery

The road to recovery started in 1998 when he went to a lecture by a scientist called Derrick Moot, who was undertaking research into the role of drought-resistant Lucerne. Over the years the use of Lucerne as opposed to ryegrass has helped transform the Avery’s Bonaveree farm in Marlborough on the South Island. It now extends to 2,560ha, carrying 21,000 stock units made up of cattle and sheep.

“The Lucerne science programme changed my world. In one day, one man restored my hope,” said Avery. He won South Island farmer of the year in 2010, and over the years others became interested in his story.

He was increasingly asked to speak at numerous conferences and events, which made him realise there were hundreds of others struggling with mental health. It eventually led Avery to write his book, The Resilient Farmer, in 2017.

Bonaveree farm is now run by his son Fraser, with Avery spending his time doing roadshows and offering mentoring support, encouraging farmers to adopt new thinking and practices. The aim is to help farmers across financial, environmental and social issues.

Too many farmers don’t prioritise health

Setting the scene for the Rethinking Rural conference, Dr Rebecca Orr, a junior doctor at Antrim Area Hospital, outlined how farmers are self-employed, don’t get sick pay and are therefore at high risk of presenting late for medical care, or not at all.

She said that in many cases, their own health is not their number one priority, but instead it is the health of their livestock and ensuring that they get a livelihood from farming.

“The average age of farmers is 57. In any other industry usually when you hit 57 you are working on your retirement plan and how you can maximise your pension pot. Most farmers would rather die in harness,” she explained.

Coming from a farming background, Orr painted an accurate picture of the reality of living in the countryside. Farmers work long hours and often do not eat a nutritious diet, especially at busy times.

There are also financial pressures, fear of inspections, concern around animal diseases such as TB, and multiple risks from working with livestock and heavy machinery.

“People are feeling very vulnerable. In recent times it has all been enhanced by vegans and animal rights campaigners who have vilified agriculture. It has left farmers under huge pressure,” she said.

Taking everything together she maintained that farmers are at high risk of getting stressed, having high blood pressure, and in some cases suffering from mental illness.

However, at the same time, logistics and infrastructure make it more difficult for a rural dweller to visit a health care provider. There are also rural GP practices and clinics struggling to cope with demand.

“Is there any way we can enhance the Farm Family Health Check service that is already provided?” asked Orr. She also emphasised the need to get medical students out on placements in rural areas, so that they understand that working in that environment can be challenging and rewarding.

Health Check van nears 20,000 examinations

The Farm Family Health Checks Programme, which started in July 2012, should reach a milestone of 20,000 people through its doors by January 2020, Doreen Bolton from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust told attendees at the Rethinking Rural conference.

Staffed by trained nurses, the Health Check van is a regular sight at shows, events and local marts in NI.

Farmers who visit the van can get a short medical examination to cover issues such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and mental wellbeing.

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