National Rural mental Health Forum Online Seminar

Agenda

11am - Welcome and introductions convenor

11.05am - Presentation on Farmstrong

An opportunity for you to hear of an exciting initiative following the tour of New Zealander Doug Avery.

Farmer or Crofter? We want to hear from you - new survey aims to highlight farmer and crofter wellbeing as a priority for Scottish agriculture

How do you feel on a “normal” day? What has the strongest positive impact on your wellbeing? What helps you manage the challenges? What support do you need now and in the future? How would you like it delivered? If you are a farmer or crofter, we want to hear from you and here is why....

With increasing concerns around farmer and crofter wellbeing, as pressures build in the industry, a range of agricultural partners have come together to launch a survey to better understand the needs and concerns of our most important asset, YOU - Scotland’s farmers and crofters - with the view of launching a new wellbeing programme for Scotland in 2022/23.

This research follows on from the successful “drought, adversity and breaking new ground” tour that took place in winter 2018 and saw over 2000 farmers attend one of fourteen events to hear New Zealand farmer Doug Avery, talk about his own challenges with mental health and wellbeing. (click here for more on the tour)

The survey, supported by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), the National Rural Mental Health Forum (run by Support in Mind Scotland), RHASS and the Scottish Rural Network (Scottish Government), aims to provide insights to emulate Farmstrong, a successful wellbeing programme in New Zealand that helps farmers to “live well, to farm well”.

The initiative is designed by farmers for farmers, to provide the resources and proven tools that you might need to manage your own wellbeing when faced with challenges that are often hard to predict, or control, from fluctuation commodity prices and the weather, to changing government legislation and market pressures.

Following on from the Doug Avery tour, a steering group was established to review the learnings, chaired by beef, sheep and arable farmer, John Scott of Fearn Farm, Ross-Shire. This research has been coordinated and managed by the group. Please come along to this presentation to hear more.

Questions and discussion

12.55 - Closing remarks and date of next meeting

1pm - Close