'Greener Grass' to help those in the industry seek support
Farmers on the Isle of Man are being encouraged to ask for help with loneliness and mental health issues that may arise while at work.
It's as the Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU) observes 'Yellow Wellies Mind Your Head' campaign which focuses on tackling wellbeing issues in the agricultural sector.
In the UK:
- 95 percent of farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as one of the biggest hidden problems facing farmers today
- The latest Office of National Statistics figures showed 36 suicides were registered in England and Wales among the farming and agricultural industry in 2021
Greener Grass
Starting today (Monday, 10 February) and taking place throughout this week, the 'Mind Your Head' campaign is designed to raise awareness around wellbeing and mental health in farming.
To mark the occasion, the Manx National Farmers Union has launched a new group known as 'Greener Grass' to assist and support its members.
You can find a link to the group's Facebook page HERE.
MNFU General Secretary Sarah Comish says typically younger farmers are more inclined to speak out while the older generation may find it a challenge:
Sam Morrey is a farm from Andreas and says the stresses involved in the industry 'are untold':
Manx National Farmers' Union representatives Sarah, Sam and Carolyn Layce spoke live on Manx Radio Breakfast about the launch of the Greener Grass initiative - you can listen to the full interview via Newscast below:
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