Ireland must introduce a specific mental health strategy to address the silent pandemic that is causing a shadow across the farming community in rural Ireland.
That was the message delivered by Midlands North West MEP Maria Walsh, when she hosted an event in Brussels this week.
As part of EU Mental Health Week, the Fine Gael MEP hosted the event with a Belgian MEP, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention within the farming community.
While farm safety is a major issue in Ireland, MEP Walsh believes that mental health challenges and suicidal ideations have sadly become the norm, and shockingly, almost 25% of Irish farmers area at risk of suicide.
MEP Walsh believes that addressing the suicidal ideation among the farming community is just as important as tackling the safety risk associated with life on the farm.
She has been giving more details to Midwest Radio’s Michael D. McAndrew …
