Farming charities highlight resources to help tackle stress
© Tim Scrivener As Stress Awareness Month unfolds this April, several organisations are offering support to farmers, pointing them to valuable resources to help identify, manage and reduce stress.
Stress is a growing concern for farmers, with external pressures such as fluctuating market prices, unpredictable weather, and disease outbreaks adding to the daily challenges of running a farm.
These stressors can leave farmers feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
See also: New ‘Walk in the Park’ event to support wellbeing in agriculture
Acknowledging that stress is a natural part of farming life is the first step towards managing it.
Understanding its signs and proactively addressing it can prevent it from escalating into more severe health issues.
In light of Stress Awareness Month, various organisations are highlighting resources tailored to support farmers in managing their stress levels.
Resources
The Farming Community Network offers a Greenzone Checklist, designed to help individuals assess personal and business resilience.
“We are here to listen and support you with any worries, stresses or concerns,” says FCN.
The organisation can be reached via its confidential helpline on 03000 111 999 (7am-11pm, 365 days a year).
The Health and Safety Executive promotes mental wellbeing in workplaces, including farming environments, through its Working Minds campaign.
The campaign outlines five steps to combat workplace stress:
- Reach out and have conversations
- Recognise the signs and causes of stress
- Respond to identified risks by agreeing on action points
- Reflect on actions taken and assess improvements
- Make it routine to check in on progress.
Specific farming-related resources include FarmWell, which provides a stress management guide to help farmers identify signs of stress and build resilience.
The Stress Container concept (opens as PDF) further assists individuals in understanding and managing their stress triggers.
Farmers in Ireland can turn to Teagasc, which offers guidance on coping with the pressures of farming, while Farmers Weekly’s Fit2Farm provides articles focused on improving both physical and mental health for farmers.
In addition, rural charity Yana offers detailed plans for managing stress and depression.
With a wealth of resources available, farmers are encouraged to take proactive steps in managing their stress.