A mental health initiative run by Macra has been “inundated” with calls from young farmers who are seeking support.
That is according to Elaine Houlihan, president of Macra, who was speaking at the Agriland live podcast on the future of farming at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co. Laois today (Wednesday, September 18).
In its pre-budget submission, Macra has called on the government to increase mental health supports for young farmers.
Mental Health
In 2018, Make the Moove was launched in Macra in north Tipperary, in response to a significant rise in suicides in the farming community, in particular among males.
The initiative, which now operates across the country, was relaunched last year with a new logo and tagline.
“With the challenges that we face in the farming community, it does take a toll. It’s the uncertainty that’s there,” Houlihan said.
“Make the Moove is currently inundated with calls. Our helpline unfortunately is now a callback service because we cannot keep up with the calls we are receiving.
“The calls that we are receiving they are all down to succession, worries about income,” she added.
The Macra president that a subsidised counselling service offered through the farm organisation’s mental health initiative is also overwhelmed with requests for support.
“Make the Moove is such a vital service for rural communities and especially the farming communities and we’re not government funded.
“We’re solely relying on fundraising, that’s no way to provide a service to our farming community,” she said.
Government
The Macra president believes the government has not done enough to support young farmers.
She appealed to Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue to show support to the sector in Budget 2025.
Houlihan added that she has been disappointed by some of the political engagement Macra has received over the past year-and-a-half.
“Anytime we go knocking on their door as the young farmers, the engagement levels we get are minimal.
“As national president of Macra, over the last year-and-a-half have I been disappointed with some of the engagement that we have received as the minority group of 6.9% of the population under the age of 35 being farmers? Yes.
“Have we been taken seriously? Maybe sometimes. Have we got any of our asks delivered on? Minimal.
“Am I hopeful we get something in this upcoming budget? I really want to say yes, but I really don’t know, and that’s feeding into the uncertainty that’s there for young farmers. There’s so much more that could be done,” she said.
The Macra president was also critical about the lack of detail on the Commission for General Renewal recently announced by Minister Charlie McConalogue.