FARMERS experiencing mental health issues should not have to suffer in silence or feel restricted by any traditional stigmas attached to the condition, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture heard last week.

IFA Deputy President, Alice Doyle, and Galway’s National IFA Family and Social Affairs Chair, Teresa Roche, outlined the mental health issues and concerns of many farmers across the country.

Financial pressures, market uncertainties, unpredictable weather, isolation, regulations and emotions concerning the future of the family farm, were all outlined as contributory factors to potential mental health problems.

Teresa Roche told the Committee that initiatives to raise awareness, train agricultural advisers in mental health literacy, and provide better access to rural services were extremely important.

She said that while recognising the problem was the first step, what was needed now were ‘co-ordinated, properly funded, and well-grounded actions’ based on the issues outlined by farmers.

“That begins with treating mental wellbeing as a core part of agricultural sustainability. It means ensuring that services are not only available, but accessible in terms of time, location, and cultural fit.

“And crucially, it means involving farmers directly in the design and delivery of those supports, so that nothing feels imposed or out of touch with their lived experience,” said Teresa Roche.

Over recent years IFA have been involved a ‘health and wellbeing’ project for farmers run in partnership with Croí, the Heart and Stroke Charity, and funded by the Department of Agriculture.

This project is returning this year – the IFA has thanked the Dept. of Agriculture for funding the initiative – and now the association is hoping to provide supports for farmers experiencing mental health issues.

IFA Deputy President, Alice Doyle, said that many farmers were slow to seek help on mental health issues due to ‘cultural norms’ and not speaking about emotional stress which then goes untreated.

“Farming is more than an occupation in Ireland. It is a way of life that shapes our rural communities, our economy, and our national identity,” Alice Doyle said.

“But behind pride, tradition, and hard work, there is a growing and pressing concern: the mental health and wellbeing of our farmers. A farmer struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression is more at risk of making unsafe decisions, more likely to withdraw socially, and less likely to engage with services that could help improve their farm and their life.”

“Good mental health leads to better judgement, stronger relationships, and more sustainable farming practices. If we want a healthy farming sector, we need to support healthy farmers,” said Alice Doyle.

Pictured: IFA Deputy President, Alice Doyle