Retaining Your Sanity When the Shit Comes Down -
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This presentation was shown at The Dairy Show 2018 The Royal Bath and West Show to raise awareness of Mental Health in The Farming Community. Becky Wright Director of New Leaf Life Design spoke about the Mental Health Crisis and her determination to start a Rural Counselling Service.
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Retaining Your Sanity When the Shit Comes Down -
- 2. WHY BOTHER? • More than one farmer a week in the UK dies by suicide (ONS) • Risk of suicide was also higher amongst those working in specific agricultural roles such as harvesting crops and rearing animals (almost twice the national average) (ONS). • Poor mental health is the biggest health topic in the UK at present – one in four people have been diagnosed with a mental illness and in farming, mental health issues continue to be of great concern
- 4. STRESS •Uncertainty – Dry Summer – Milk Value – Value of animals •81% have trouble sleeping •55% do not feel in good shape mentally So what can you do to retain your sanity?
- 5. JOB ADVERT – DAIRY FARMER WANTED • No Holiday • 60 hour week • Sleep less than 6 hours per night • No free time but • Your produce is undervalued by the consumer • Your family relies on you • Very little time for a social life or partner • Physically demanding
- 6. COMMUNITY • We need to come together more as a collective community if the supermarket shelves were empty then produce prices might change • We need to combat loneliness in farming – Farming Community Network • Supporting each other by being more open about our mental health
- 7. BE OPEN ALRIGHT MY LUVER • ‘I’m really concerned about you. • I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself. Is there something bothering you or something you’d like to talk about?’ • EWE ARE NOT ALONE • Removing firearms – dangerous chemicals • As a partner or friend, you can advise their GP if you are concerned about their health
- 9. SUPPORT New Leaf Rural Life Design – Hope to set up a rural counselling service in Somerset. 07590684888 Farming Community Network here at the show Helpline: 03000 111999 E-Helpline: help@fcn.org.uk Helpline is open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm Website: www.fcn.org.uk Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) 01865 724931 (weekdays 9am – 5pm) Samaritans` 116 123
Editor's Notes
- Retaining Sanity – When your shit comes down Improving Mental Health in the Farming Community I have 10 minutes and some question time with you today to talk about Retaining Sanity when the shit comes down, Thank you for listening and a big thank you to Rupert Cox who invited me today.
- More than one farmer a week in the UK dies by suicide (ONS) Risk of suicide was also higher amongst those working in specific agricultural roles such as harvesting crops and rearing animals (almost twice the national average) (ONS). Office for National Statics' Poor mental health is the biggest health topic in the UK at present – one in four people have been diagnosed with a mental illness and in farming, mental health issues continue to be of great concern Quoted from Farmers weekly
- Farmers Weekly have launched a campaign last week called Fit2 Farm They collated responses from 728 farmers and workers surveyed – 65 hours worked per week on average 0 days holiday for one in 10 farmers 15% say their mental wellbeing is poor 10% injured in a farm accident in last year (Source: Fit2Farm survey, Farmers Weekly)
- I spoke to my neighbour a local Dairy Farmer he was telling me," You produce a product for 2 – 3 years at huge investment unsure if you can sell it." 40 years ago milk was 11p per litre now its 18p we need it to be 36p per litre for their fair price - But without a fair price for their milk, there's no way to pay the business outgoings of a farm: the vet and feed bill he also mentioned the extra stress based on this summers weather. He went to market at the weekend and everyone was selling off their stock due to shortage of feed and the price of lambs were the same as 35 years ago. Lack of money to reinvest so machinery is getting older. 81% have trouble sleeping , Two-thirds of respondents (68%) said they didn't always get enough sleep, with more than a quarter 28% saying they have trouble sleeping all or most of the time. Nearly a quarter used alcohol to help sleep. Almost two-thirds (64%) believe they are in good shape physically, but the number is lower (55%) when it comes to how they feel mentally.
- Lets face it nobody would apply if we told the truth No Holiday 60 hour week Sleep less than 6 hours per night No free time but Your produce is undervalued by the consumer Your family relies on you Very little time for a social life or partner Physically demanding
- We need to come together more as a collective community if the supermarket shelves were empty then produce prices might change We need to combat loneliness in farming – Farming Community Network Supporting each other by being more open about our mental health The Farm Safety Foundation’s inaugural ‘Mind Your Head’ Campaign aims to encourage farmers and farming families not to neglect themselves, but to put themselves first, ‘open up’ and get some help and advice on whatever concerns they have. If you provide insurance, make sure employees are aware of their behavioural health benefits, including options for counselling online or over the phone
- Have a chat side-by-side rather than face-to-face. If you’re struggling for the right words, she says, “Just say, ‘I’m really concerned about you. I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself. Is there something bothering you or something you’d like to talk about?’ The Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs started a campaign, Are Ewe Okay?, Firearms If a person in crisis owns a firearm you will no doubt be worried that taking steps to have it removed may get them into trouble, resulting in them having their firearms certificate removed and also that if you take steps to remove it there may be adverse implications for you. This is not true and having dealt with a case myself firearms can be returned to the owner after help and support is accessed. Remove keys to chemical stores: think about other risk factors: this might allow time for the person in crisis to seek the professional help they need and your actions could save a life. As a partner or friend, you can advise their GP if you are concerned about their health: The GP cannot discuss their patient with you but your information might be useful
- Here is the Life Design Map. Its a map I use within my work to help clients navigate their life. In the centre is you, The model gives a creative but practical way of working with both our inner and outer realities. It helps us to connect with our inner selves and the energy in the world surrounding us that is impacting on how we think, react or behave. This way of working can also help us to identify the deeper patterns which keep us locked in cycles of behaviour. It offers a dynamic way of moving forwards. The Life Design model gives us a vehicle to explore a range of feelings, and to understand how your past is influencing your present.
- If someone was having a heart attack, you would take the person to the hospital and get help, we need to Treat potentially life-threatening mental health situations with the same sense of urgency.” New Leaf wants to set up a Rural Counselling service in Somerset. becky@newleaf.uk.com 07590684888 FCN’s volunteers provide free, confidential, pastoral and practical support to anyone who seeks help, regardless of whether the issue is personal or business-related. They are here at the show Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) The Samaritans
- This image shows dark clouds, we need to pile on shit to the soil and we need water from dark clouds to create a rich environment for new growth to grow. Can you be open to new growth? Lets change the statistics and STOP Suicide. Remember there is a fine line between shit and fertilizer.