10 January 2022
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RABI and RSABI promote farmer resilience at OFC
FARMING charities RABI and RSABI stressed the importance of working together to normalise conversation around mental health in farming at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC).
The two charities encouraged everyone working across agriculture to play their part to help break the stigma attached to talking about our mental wellbeing, stating that invisible barriers, which can make reaching out for support feel like a weakness rather than a strength are removed, need to be broken down to encourage more farming people to reach out for support before challenges become crises.
RABI’s head of partnerships, Suzy Deeley, said: “The 2022 conference theme is ‘Routes to Resilience’, and whilst the findings from RABI’s Big Farming Survey identified that farming people are resilient, the continued expectation of being strong, healthy and virtually invincible simply isn’t realistic.
“We all have the capacity to be affected by difficulties and challenges, and we are grateful to the OFC for providing a really valuable platform for us to connect with opinion leaders across the sector and highlight the importance of empowering farming people with the tools and services they need to move forward positively.
“The findings from RABI’s Big Farming Survey have helped RABI to identify the priorities for action, now the sector must work collaboratively to create better futures for farming communities.”
RSABI chief executive, Nina Clancy said friends, family and neighbours could all play their part in encouraging people to reach out for help instead of soldiering on regardless.
“Working with organisations, businesses and individuals in the industry to help promote this message, and to encourage people to come forward for support, is crucial,” she said.
For more details, email [email protected]. If you are based in Scotland and would like to know more about the work of RSABI, please email [email protected].
