EDDIE GILLANDERS: It’s good for farmers to share their worries as brave talk illustrates
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
WITH the pressures of finance and bureaucracy in modern farming, and the loneliness of working on your own, as many farmers do these days, mental health is becoming a major issue for the farming community.
Fortunately, it’s a problem which is being increasingly recognised but there is still an unfortunate stigma attached to it which prevents those affected from talking about it, even to close family and friends, far less seek medical help.
It’s difficult for many to come to terms with but the essential first step is to share your anxieties.
Don’t clam up and keep it to yourself.
Being open with family and friends will remove much of the burden and pave the way for the professional help which may be required.
Just talking about your problem, and a sympathetic ear, will bring relief and you will find that there are many others in the same boat as yourself.
There is plenty of help out there for those who need it, not least from NFU Scotland and the RSABI who should be the first port of call to point you in the right direction.
This was the message from north-east farmer, Kenny Elphinstone, vice-chairman of the union’s New Deer branch, who gave a brave, honest and heart-rending talk of his own experiences fighting the demon of mental health – not a term Kenny likes – at last week’s mental wellbeing conference held by the union in Inverurie.
Kenny admitted that his own problems had started when he was only about 20 years of age and by the age of 24 he had to be admitted to Cornhill mental hospital in Aberdeen for treatment.
This helped greatly and he was back to full health within a few weeks.
However, he landed back in hospital for two weeks in 2009.
His condition deteriorated again in 2016.
This time he kept his feelings locked up and didn’t tell his wife which resulted in him trying to take his own life and being rushed into hospital in an ambulance.
He realised then that if he returned to face the same problems, he might do the same again so with his wife worked out a plan to reduce the stress on himself by cutting back his farming enterprise and taking on some outside contracting.
Since then he hasn’t looked back and is grateful to all those, including his wife, who have helped him get through this dark period.
“It has made big difference to my life,” he says.
NFUS north-east regional chairman, Alan Simpson, says mental well-being is a massively important subject which most farmers can relate to.
“Our agricultural industry, along with the veterinary profession, know only too well how lonely our lives can feel at times,” he says.
Regional manager, Lorna Paterson, says Covid has escalated the effects of poor mental health since the union’s last meeting on the subject in November, 2019, which had attracted an audience of more than 100.
“I’ve never witnessed so many young people suffering to the extent they are now,” she says.
“It’s vitally important that we help facilitate and support discussions and offer peer support on this topic.”
North-east vice-chairman, Kevin Gilbert, who has had his own challenges with depression over the years and chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of recognising the tell-tale signs of mental stress.
“There is no stigma associated with poor mental health,” he said.
“We need to be brave enough to speak about this subject so that others feel enabled to reach out for help when it’s needed.”
So how can you help someone going through a crisis?
Here are a few ways to help them cope:
n Stay in their life. Be there and keep in touch. Facebook and other social media is useful to.
n If they want to talk about a problem, just listen.
n Ask what you can do to support them.
n Remember, they are the same person you’ve known and cared about for years.
No one expects you to be an expert but patience and time to listen can mean a lot to someone facing a crisis in their life.
Leaving someone to speak freely and without judgment is a simple but effective way of getting the ball rolling.
Life without stress is impossible but prolonged stress can damage your health.
The good news is that there are things you can do to manage stress at home and at work with support from those around you.
The Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution has a helpline – 0300 111 4166 – and will arrange immediate help if required.
