HSE urged to better support isolated farmers

A STRATEGY to combat depression and isolation among farmers is being sought from the Health Service Executive.

Labour Party spokesman on agriculture and food Sean Sherlock TD, who made the call, said farmers can often work all day without meeting another soul.

He asked Health Minister Mary Harney in the Dáil what steps her department is taking to tackle the problem.

She said that Reach Out, a national strategy for action on suicide prevention, was launched in September, 2005. It recognises the importance of reaching out to people who are self-employed or those who work in places and settings that can be isolated, such as farmers.

Minister Harney said that Reach Out provides a policy framework for suicide prevention activities in Ireland.

“The strategy calls for a multi-sectoral approach to the prevention of suicidal behaviour in order to foster co-operation between health, education, community, voluntary and private sector agencies,” she said.

Ms Harney said implementation of these strategy documents is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive.

Deputy Sherlock said later the HSE must develop a targeted approach on this issue with Irish farmers now one of the largest groups to be affected by social change. Many farmers and their wives nowadays feel very isolated and lonely.

“And while recommendations have been made toward the fostering of positive mental health across the entire community many members of the farming community have yet to see evidence of this.

“There have been more and more cases coming to light concerning animal welfare on farms which have been repeatedly linked to mental health issues. It has been well documented in these cases that financial worries left farmers feeling isolated and alone which in such cases led them to neglect their everyday duties. They simply felt there was nowhere to turn,” he said.

Deputy Sherlock said he would be calling on the HSE to ensure that it reaches out directly to members of the rural community.