Actions targeting farmers at risk of suicide are to get under way in the coming weeks, amid concerns that stress in the agricultural community is being increased by blame against the sector around climate change.
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The actions are the next step after a report published last October highlighted that 23.4% of farmers are at risk of #suicide, while more than half experience moderate to extremely severe #depression.
The report was funded by the Health Service Executive National Office for #SuicidePrevention, and carried out by Dr Tomás Russell, assistant professor in #agricultural extension and innovation, and Alison Stapleton at the University College Dublin (UCD) School of Agriculture and Food Science.
It was presented at an event in Brussels last week hosted by MEP Maria Walsh, focusing on mental health and #suicideprevention within the farming community.
The report found that climate change policies, outsiders not understanding farming, and concerns about the future of their farm were among the top three stressors. It pointed out that participants in the study mentioned feeling scapegoated for climate change and felt they were being misrepresented in the media.
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Dr Russell told the Irish Examiner that interventions will get under way in the coming weeks to help farmers. The first phase will involve the development of protocols for clinical psychologists working with farmers at risk of #suicide.
Another phase of the interventions will involve psychologists and agricultural advisers attending discussion groups with farmers to test what works well with farmers, according to Mr Russell.
He added: “The end result of that hopefully will be the development of a website with resources where farmers can log in.
The aim is to get farmers better quicker and targeted quicker.
“It is important that we get to that 23.4% of farmers that are at risk. The overall aim of that part is that there would be clinical trained #psychologists in #rural #mentalhealth teams.”
Maria Walsh said that #mentalhealthdifficulties have been the “silent #pandemic” in the farming community for too long.
“Farm safety is a major issue in rural Ireland,” she said. “It is one that we hear about in the media and through safety campaigns, and rightly so. The difficulty, however, is that #mentalhealth is just as much of a problem in our farming community today, and sadly, we are still not talking about it.
We need to break down the barriers and address the taboo.
“Our farming community, particularly in rural Ireland, is finding it really tough and we are continuing to ignore the difficulties.”
In the Dáil last week, Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan of Cork North West echoed concerns that farmers feel scapegoated regarding #climatechange.
“Farmers feel very much under siege from climate activists, unfortunately,” he said. “It is not about a blame game.
“We need to know that everybody is in it together, and farmers are very much to the forefront on that.”
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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