Retired farmers get together in bid to highlight mental health in countryside

A new project which gets retired farmers together in a bid to encourage socialisation and highlight the issues of mental health in the countryside has received huge support.

The joint Alzheimer Scotland and RSABI project in Dumfries and Galloway will see a social group for retired farmers and farm workers – including those with dementia.

The group looks to provide opportunities for those who have spent their life farming to come together for a chat and a cuppa

The project is also being supported by the Health and Wellbeing in the Farming Community project - a joint approach between NFU Scotland and Health and Social Care units in the region run by NHS and the local authority.

An initial meeting for retired farmers took place in Castle Douglas in late November and was a huge success. It is now looking to build on that and a wider call for retired farmers and farm workers in Dumfries and Galloway to come along has been issued.

'Huge part of the region'

Explaining the background to the project, Dementia Friendly Community Worker Jill Rennie, who established the group, said: “We want everyone in Dumfries and Galloway to live in an enabling, supportive community and feel valued and understood.

“Agriculture is a huge part of the region. My role is to engage with people living with dementia and their families, and that includes the farming community.

“I had noticed that when a farmer or farm worker retires they can become isolated and lonely. They no longer go to the mart and may not have any other opportunities to meet other farmers socially.

“I began to wonder if a retired farming social group could be set up to include all people who have worked in agriculture including people with dementia.

“This resulted in the launch of the retired farming group as a pilot initially.”

'Discussion flowed'

Teresa Dougall, NFU Scotland’s Regional Manager for Dumfries and Galloway, attended the first meeting and said retired farmers, who have spent a lifetime in the industry, come together and chat.

“Despite not knowing each other, the discussion flowed – from how they farmed to how people now farm and their lives then and now.”

Research carried out by Plymouth University into the experience of dementia in farming and farming families, and its impact on their businesses and home lives, has identified four areas of concern which need to be addressed if dementia in the countryside is to be managed.

It is the first time that research has addressed this issue in farming.

The four areas of concern identified by the study were: the farm environment; a reluctance to ask for help; support services, and; changing rural communities.