Website seeks to help farmers

By Stephen McKinley

In the wake of foot-and-mouth disease, stress has been identified as a major health risk to rural and farming families in Northern Ireland.

In response, the Northern Irish Minister for Agriculture, Brid Rodgers, has announced the setting up of a web site (www.ruralsupport.org.uk) where those living with stress, worry and isolation in rural areas, can find help. The site will supplement the rural support telephone helpline that Rodgers opened in March.

Many rural and farming families lost their entire herds during the foot-and-mouth cull, and even with cash compensation from the government the experience of the slaughter has taken its toll.

Launching both the site and the phone line on Monday, June 25, Rodgers addressed the problems facing Northern Ireland’s farming community, noting that foot-and-mouth was only the most immediate source of concern — long-term agricultural decline and the parallel concerns around money, debt and unemployment were also sources of stress.

"I am acutely aware that the stresses on the agricultural industry are having a profound effect on the health and well-being of our farming families and the wider rural community," the minister said.

"I am pleased to announce this help line and website, and would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of the Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone in coordinating this development, and to the Farm Crisis Network and Family Farm Development, who are manning this helpine in this initial stage."

In Dungannon, manager of Health Action Zone Eleanor Gill said that farming and rural families "are often both physically and emotionally isolated due to their culture of self-reliance and the nature of their lifestyle. They need to have access to confidential, reliable and understandable information which is relevant to their needs."

Gill added that research showed that these families were often reluctant to seek out help from traditional sources such as their local doctor, or even to admit that they are experiencing problems.

"There is a tendency within the farming community to feel that they have to cope alone," she said

Research showed that farmers are one and a half times more likely to commit suicide than those any other area of employment in Northern Ireland.