33 male farmers died by suicide in 2009
A conference organised by the National Farm Safety heard that 33 male farmers died by suicide last year, a 24% increase on 2008.
Maria Feeney, Teagasc Rural Economy Research Centre and UCD Walsh Fellow, said high rates of rural suicide were not, however, just an Irish phenomenon. Studies have shown similar trends in Australia and Scotland where urban rates of suicide were also lower.
Explaining the worrying trend among farmers, Ms Feeney said modern society changes very rapidly and family and community relationships are weaker.
She listed financial issues, social change and change in agriculture and employment as challenges and difficulties encountered in rural communities.
She also identified self worth and self-respect, loss of strong community supports, and social isolation and loneliness, due to fewer farms and rural depopulation in remote areas, as other issues. Fears and worries about farm regulations and difficulties in adapting to new employment types also posed challenges.
A specialist plastic surgeon, Dr Anne Collins, outlined to the conference the horror of injuries sustained by people in farm accidents.
She said in the case of traumatic injury involving farm machinery, plastic surgeons do the very best they can to restore severed limbs and body parts.
“But our efforts very often have limitations in restoring the human body to its original state,” she said.
Her comments follow a national study which revealed that the power shaft guard was missing in 80% of injuries and loose clothing and rushing were implicated in 40%.
Minister of State Dara Calleary said he was concerned to note that in the agriculture sector, it is not just safety that appears to be neglected.
A study conducted at the National University of Ireland in Galway showed that male farmers have a poor health profile.
Only 35% had an annual blood pressure check, only 29% took regular exercise and only 26% protected their skin from the sun.
