This year at the Balmoral Show, Britain’s largest agricultural exhibition, Rural Support launched a brochure entitled “Cope with Agricultural Pressure”.

The publication is intended for farmers and their families and provides useful information on a wide range of farm life issues that any farming family may encounter at any time.

The brochure was developed by Rural Support with the support of the Executive Director of Health and Safety, based on the original publication from Teagasc and Mental Health Ireland in Ireland and was redesigned for Northern Ireland.

The booklet combines practical information on a wide range of agricultural issues and presents it in a direct and accessible form. It provides information and sources of support on a wide range of issues related to both the farming business and the family, which can lead to low levels of mental well-being and provoke stress.

A key point in the brochure is information about how and where farmers and their families can access additional information by directly contacting organizations, useful websites, helpline numbers, and other publications.

Jude McCann, executive director of rural support services, said: “Our agricultural sector is undergoing a period of great change and transformation, and this can bring uncertainty and additional stress to farming families. Isolation and loneliness can exacerbate mental health problems and make some problems insurmountable.

We can reduce this sense of isolation and share the burden. Access to quality and reliable information can be crucial when making decisions and considering options. I would like to sincerely thank HSENI for their support in developing and printing this resource. We are pleased to work together again this year in Balmoral to help protect the farmer’s greatest asset - his mental health. ”