Suicide and Irish Farmers

Suicide is a serious issue across the farming community worldwide, and unfortunately, farmers are considered to be at higher risk of suicide than the general population.

In Ireland, farming is one of the most hazardous occupations in terms of suicide risk, with rates of suicide among farmers estimated to be around two times higher than in other professions.

According to data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), there were 165 suicides among farmers and agricultural workers in Ireland in the 5 years between 2011 and 2016.

The reasons for this increased risk of suicide among farmers are complex and multifaceted.

Let's take a closer look at some of these contributing factors The better we recognise them the more likely it is that we can address them:

• Financial pressures: Farming can be a financially challenging occupation, with fluctuating prices and market conditions. These financial pressures can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and despair among farmers and their families, as they worry about making ends meet and planning for the future of their farms.

• Isolation and loneliness: Farming can be a solitary occupation, which can be exacerbated by rural living and long working hours. This can all lead to a lack of social support and a sense of disconnection from others. Farmers may feel cut off from their support networks and struggle to cope with the demands of the job.

• Lack of Services: Access to mental health services may also be limited in rural areas, which can make it difficult for farmers to access the support they need.

• Stigma and lack of support: There is often a stigma associated with mental health concerns in rural communities, which can make it difficult for farmers to seek support or talk openly about their struggles.

Efforts to address some of these contributing factors above need to be specially tailored to target rural farmers. Some of this work can be done by Government and state bodies, however, some of the work needs to be done at the community level too.

We each have a role to play.

Some initiatives that have been implemented in Ireland in the past few years include mental health awareness campaigns targeted at farmers, such as:

• The Teagasc leaflet - ‘“Positive-Mental-Health-in-Farming”

• The IFA leaflet- ‘Let’s Talk – Dealing with Stress’

• Mental Health Irelands brochure - ‘“Coping with the Pressures of Farming”

• Training programs for healthcare professionals to better understand the unique needs of farmers, such as on Feirm Ground, a training programme that sees agricultural advisors engage directly with farmers on their health and wellbeing.

• Helplines and support services specifically for the farming community, like Teagasc’s Farm Helpline: (Call: 076–106 4468 The information helpline will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.)

• The 8 Farm Health & Safety EIPs which ran from 2021 to 2022. As part of this scheme, the FORUM Farm Health & Safety EIP ran suicide training (Assist and Safetalk courses) in the Connemara area and hosted several community consultations as well as 1:1 sessions with farmers regarding mental health. It was from these consultations that this website and corresponding brochure originated.

In addition to these interventions, each locality needs to promote a culture of openness and support around mental health in the farming community, where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength rather than weakness.

Encouraging farmers to prioritise their mental health and well-being, building social connections and networks, and providing access to appropriate mental health services are all crucial steps in addressing suicide in the farming community.

By addressing these issues, we can help to promote the health and well-being of farmers and their families and ensure the long-term sustainability of the farming industry in Ireland.

In the next few blog posts we specifically outline how to spot the signs of depression and/or suicidal tendencies, we outline how to help someone who is struggling, and how to ask for help if you yourself are no longer coping with the demands of daily farming life.

We hope that in some way this can help start the conversation.