Watch for stress warning signs on the farm
When working properly, stress helps you to stay focused, energetic, and alert. But beyond a certain point, it can stop being helpful and start causing damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships and your quality of life, writes
Farm finances, dealing with paperwork, excessive workload, poor health, and poor farm work conditions such as poor safety standards are the major causes of stress among farmers, according to studies in Australia, Ireland, the USA, and Norway.
But having positive working and personal relationships is helpful in preventing stress.
Farmers are advised to make identifying and implementing key actions to maintain their safety and health an overall component of farm management, in a new Teagasc publication, “Positive Mental Health in Farming”.
Although many studies indicate a high satisfaction and quality of life associated with countryside living, there are many issues and and individual circumstances in farming that can cause stress and associated ill health and injury.
Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand that makes you feel threatened or upsets your balance in some way.
When working properly, stress helps you to stay focused, energetic, and alert.
But beyond a certain point, it can stop being helpful and start causing damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships and your quality of life.
Anyone can suffer from stress.
Every person has a different reaction to stress.
Warning signs indicate that it’s time to manage stress and consider getting help.
The physical signs include high blood pressure, muscle tension, disturbed sleep pattern, reduced energy and weight change.
The mental signs include negative attitude, reduced concentration, forgetfulness and confusion, difficulty in making decisions, and feeling uncertain or overwhelmed.
The behavioural signs include loss of interest and enjoyment, withdrawal from friends and family, irritability and mood swings, loss of sense of humour, and increased drinking, smoking, or drug use.
A key approach is recognising the signs and responding to them.
Each person must realise or become aware of the issues leading to stress and then adopt positive strategies to minimise the stressors.
Changes to manage stress in a farming context can include modifying the farming system to cut work time, or getting a health check.
Social involvement is crucial. Talk to trusted family members, neighbour and friends. Discuss farming problems with your agricultural advisor. Farm discussion groups have a valuable social dimension which is positive for solving problems and managing stress.
Set health-related goals. Have a regular health check-up with a GP.
Exercise regularly; being physically active is a key approach to stress management. Be aware that farm work may not lead to the aerobic fitness which is required for cardiovascular health. Eat a balanced diet, including fruit and vegetables. Some foods in excess — such as alcohol, chocolate, coffee and soft drinks — cause increased tension.
Check the length of your working day; excessively long working days can lead to isolation.
Work organisation is crucial to avoid long hours, rushing and injury.
Examine your farm for hazards and remove them.
Examine the profitability of your farm, by completing a profit monitor. Numerous studies indicate that efficiency beats scale in terms of profitability.
Leisure activities play a role to minimise stress. Take regular breaks and a holiday from farming. These allow your mind to refresh itself. Take time out every day for relaxation.
Teagasc advisors and farm consultants are available to advise on farm management issues.
Farmers’ organisations offer services to their members.
A person’s GP should be consulted regularly and when needed.
Local and national support groups are available, such as the Samaritans (call 1850 60 90 90, or www.samaritans.org) Their website has a list of support agencies.
St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin (call 01 249 3333), provides a support and information service staffed by experienced mental health nurses 9-5, Monday to Friday, with an answering and call-back facility outside hours.
