Lambing shed artwork reminds farmers to ‘keep talking’

Scottish farming charity the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rsabi) is urging farmers to keep talking about their mental health and look out for each other as we head into the lambing season – the busiest time of year on livestock farms across Scotland.

Lambing is a very busy, physically demanding time associated with longer, unsociable working hours for farmers, with sleep in short supply. Meanwhile, farmers are also busy with calving and sowing spring crops on farms.

See also: How farmers can deal with mental health at times of pressure

Working with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), Rsabi is publishing social media posts to highlight its #KeepTalking campaign, along with SAYFC’s AreEweOk? message.

As part of the campaign, farmers are getting involved in lambing shed artwork as a reminder to get people talking, with social media posts to highlight the message.

The initiative features Rsabi trustee Carole Brunton, Rsabi Health Hut nurse Irene Scott, and Fife farmer and SAYFC vice-chairman Ally Brunton, with lambing shed artwork.

Over the past few days, the social posts have reached more than 150,000 on Facebook alone.

Rsabi chief executive Carol McLaren said: “Things can be hard and it is very easy to start to be overwhelmed when you are working flat out and not getting enough sleep.

“When we bottle things up, we start to lose perspective and we can blame ourselves for things that are not our fault. It is therefore more important than ever to find time to talk with other people, and be kind to yourself, too.”

• Rsabi’s free, confidential support service is available 24/7 by calling 0808 1234 555, or through a confidential webchat service, available on the website.