Today, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with special responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety, and New Market Development, Martin Heydon T.D., visited the Dublin City University (DCU) School of Health and Human Performance (SHHP). During his visit, he attended a presentation on “Skills for Resilience,” an educational intervention designed to enhance farmers’ understanding of their mental health and promote help-seeking behaviors while addressing associated stigmas.
The “Skills for Resilience” intervention is a component of the broader FarMHealth project, which is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.
Reflecting on the project’s findings, Minister Heydon emphasized the increasing awareness of mental health issues in society, including within the farming community. He noted that the FarMHealth project has revealed that many farmers lack the knowledge to recognize poor mental health and are hesitant to seek professional help when needed.
“It is encouraging to see how the one-time ‘Skills for Resilience’ educational program, when integrated into discussion groups, can enhance farmers’ knowledge of mental well-being and help reduce the stigma around discussing mental health and seeking help,” Heydon said.
Dr. Siobhán O’Connor, the lead investigator on the FarMHealth project, highlighted the importance of mental health literacy—understanding when, where, and how to seek help. “Farmers face a significant amount of adversity daily and need support. Our research found that many farmers would seek mental healthcare if it were tailored for them, if there were no stigma against it, and if they knew how to access services,” O’Connor explained.
Dr. Anna Donnla O’Hagan, co-lead investigator, added that the initiative was developed in collaboration with the Irish farming community to increase farmers’ mental health literacy and empower them to seek help when necessary.
The research involved 72 Irish farmers participating in facilitated discussions on resilience, mental health, and healthcare as part of their regular Teagasc-led discussion groups. Post-discussion, farmers reported increased knowledge of mental health supports, greater intentions to seek help, increased confidence in seeking mental healthcare, and greater comfort in discussing their mental health.
Dr. John McNamara, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist, noted that the intervention effectively addresses the stigma around seeking help and equips farmers with essential coping skills. “The research shows that when a farmer-centric approach is used, farmers can benefit from and enjoy mental health skills training,” McNamara stated.
For more information, visit the FarMHealth website at FarMHealth, which provides informational videos on recognizing signs of poor mental health, building resilience, and accessing support. The site also features real-life stories from farmers sharing their mental health challenges and how they sought help.
The FarMHealth project, funded with €210,569 by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under its 2021 Thematic Research Call, involved a research team including Dr. Siobhán O’Connor, Dr. Anna Donnla O’Hagan, Dr. Joseph Firnhaber, Ms. Sandra Malone, and Dr. Sinead O’Keeffe from DCU’s School of Health & Human Performance, along with Dr. John McNamara from Teagasc. The team extends sincere thanks to all participants.
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