Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
84. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the efforts by his Department to address issues regarding farmer mental health given that a recent study to coincide with agri mental health week found that almost one quarter of Irish farmers are at risk of taking their own life, and another recent UCD study showed that 80% of rural farmers suffered from mental distress and depression. [53205/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question on such an important topic.
I congratulate UCD and the HSE on their research. The research reveals the extent to which farmers on the island of Ireland are experiencing a range of challenges and stressors that are negatively impacting their mental health and highlights the importance of mental health initiatives and suicide awareness for members of the farming community.
This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. In 2022, for the first time, dedicated funding of €2.25m was allocated for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers.
The Department of Agricuture, Food and the Marine is co-funding, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme called, ‘On Feirm Ground’. This programme provides training for agricultural advisors to improve their understanding of best practice in engaging farmers with health programmes and services.
The Department is currently engaging with other professionals coming in regular contact with farmers and plans to expand this programme further in 2023.
Last year, the Department funded eight farm safety European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) projects to the value of €1.8m. Four of these projects are focused on around the mental health of people in the farming community. The projects focus on addressing challenges around farm safety, health and well-being through innovative approaches which encourage a change in behaviour from the bottom up. Additional funding has been made available to extend these projects into 2023.
The Department is also providing support for research into farmer mental health. Funding has been provided for the DCU FarMHealth Research Project, a study that will inform the development of an educational mental health intervention for farmers.
The Department supports the work of the HSA’s Farm Safety Partnership and was involved in the publication of its booklet on “Farmers’ Health and Wellbeing - A Guide to Staying Healthy While Farming”. The booklet includes a section on coping with stress and minding your mental health.
I want to reassure the Deputy that farm safety, health and wellbeing is a priority for me and my colleague,Minister of State Martin Heydon T.D, the first Minister of State with special responsibility for farm safety. Dedicated funding has been increased to €2.5m in Budget 2023 which will continue to build on my Department’s efforts to improve farm safety, health and wellbeing.
