Carlow County Council is due to debut a health and wellbeing programme targeting farmers, tomorrow (October 1) at Leinster Marts, Killeshin Road, Co. Carlow.
The free initiative, which is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), will run weekly workshop and information events for six weeks focusing on common concerns and issues blighting the farming community.
The sessions will aim to raise awareness and insight into various concerns, including farm succession and will making, coping with grief and sudden death, managing time and pressure in farming, as well as farm safety.
Each of these days will conclude with a complimentary hot dinner, free haircuts, free first aid kits and an opportunity to meet and chat with event speakers and fellow farmers.
The wellbeing programme will culminate in a Wellbeing Day, consisting of information stands, wellbeing packs, health supports and various other resources for local farmers
The wellbeing programme schedule:
- October 1, 12:00p.m-13:00p.m – Farm Succession and Will Making;
- October 8, 11:00a.m – 12:30p.m – Gambling Addiction;
- October 15, 11:00a.m – 13:00p.m – Coping with the pressures of farming;
- October 22, 11:00a.m – 13:00p.m – Farm Safety;
- November 5, 11:30a.m – 13:00p.m – Coping with sudden death;
- November 11, 10:00a.m – 13:00p.m – Farmer Wellbeing Day.
Speaking about the initiative, cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Fergal Browne said: “This is a fantastic programme we are piloting, and we hope to engage the farming community around the County of Carlow.
“The Farmer Wellbeing Day on November 11, in Leinster Mart will be a unique opportunity to meet with organisations and agri-specialists to get advice and information. We will have free farm first aid kits and lots more on the day.
“It’s an opportunity to address the many challenges faced by farmers today, from mental health to safety on the farm,” Browne added.
The programme is supported by a range of key stakeholders, including Carlow County Council, Healthy Carlow, Leinster Mart, County Carlow Development Partnership, Embrace FARM, Teagasc, IFA, Macra na Feirme and Kelly Agri Consultants.
This follows Carlow County Council’s successful grant of €10,845 from DAFM to fund its Farming Resilience project.
The project was one of a number of farm safety, health and wellbeing initiatives to be allocated funding from the €850,000 worth of grants awarded.
The successful projects were announced by Minister of State, Martin Heydon on September 17, following an open call for proposals by the department last year.
“The €850,000 in funding I am announcing today will support twenty projects across Ireland to increase awareness around farm safety, health and wellbeing. The call received an impressive number of applications highlighting the interest in driving positive change in this area.
“There was a range of approaches to supporting farmers, particularly around mental health and wellbeing.The unfortunate reality is farming has a poor record when it comes safety in the workplace.
“Farmers also experience a disproportionate burden of health problems related to cardiovascular disease, cancers and mental health.
“The projects will provide support to address the challenges that farming families and those working with farmers face around farm safety, physical health and mental health and wellbeing,” Heydon said.