Social Farming Ireland announce free farmer wellbeing event in Co. Kildare

These wellbeing events are open to all farmers and their families, and are free to attend and will be in Kill, Co.Kildare on October 23

Leitrim Development Company and their colleagues in South West Mayo Development Company, West Limerick Resources and Waterford LEADER partnership through the Social Farming Ireland network, with support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has announced a series of five regional wellbeing events that will take place on various social farms and venues across Ireland in October and November. These wellbeing events are tailored for farmers and members of farm families, with a focus on mental health, stress management, and overall wellbeing. 

Each of the five wellbeing events will be delivered in collaboration with leading advocates for farmers' mental health and experts from support services specialising in farmer wellbeing, stress management, and rural community support. Each session will provide farmers with practical advice on managing and improving their wellbeing and mental health while offering a supportive environment to discuss the challenges they face within the agricultural sector. Each farmer will receive a free wellbeing support pack, which will provide information on additional wellbeing supports available to them. 

With recent cost inflation, downward pressures on prices, poor weather and challenging public and media narrative about farmers and farming there can be lots of pressure on Irish farmers. “Farmers can experience high levels of occupational stress from their farm operations, and often these sources of stress are beyond the control of the farmer. These events represent a vital opportunity for farmers to not only gain knowledge on ways to help safeguard and improve their mental health and wellbeing, but also connect with their peers in a meaningful way,” said Mary Brennan, Research and Policy Officer at Social Farming Ireland.

“Each event will be delivered by mental health and wellbeing experts and advocates, tailored to address a broad range of farmers mental health and wellbeing issues. Indeed, by addressing mental health openly and providing tools for stress management, we aim to foster stronger and healthier rural communities.”

These wellbeing events are open to all farmers and their families, and is free to attend. Registration is required for these events, which will take place between 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the dates and at the locations listed below:

-  October 23: Kill, Co. Kildare
-  October 24: Ballymoe, Co. Galway
-  October 29: Callan, Co. Kilkenny
-  November 5: Kilmeedy, Co. Limerick
-  November 11: Ross, Co. Meath

To reserve your spot at any of these events please visit: https://www.socialfarmingireland.ie/open-days-and-events/. You’ll find the registration form for the “Farmer Wellbeing Events” and can choose the location / event that best suits you.

Alternatively, you can book your place by calling our office on 071 9641772 or contacting Caoimhe on 086 0654136 or email socialfarming@ldco.ie. Further details on speakers and venues will be supplied upon registration. Since spaces are limited, we encourage early booking to avoid disappointment. Please also note that as the majority of these events take place on social farms, we recommend dressing warmly for the occasion.

For additional information on these farmer wellbeing events, or any queries related to Social Farming or Leitrim Development Company, please contact Mary Brennan on 086 1448719 or by email mbrennan@ldco.ie