The discussion took place at this year's first Future Farming Expo Scotland event
The farming industry is ‘breaking barriers' when it comes to tackling mental health, with the issue now being freely discussed, something which would have been a rarity even a couple of years ago.
John Scott, chair of Farmstrong Scotland, told visitors to Agriconnect's Future Farming Expo Scotland this week that he believed the issue was much more freely discussed now, while Carol McLaren, chief executive of RSABI, added that demand for its services had grown.
"We've now trained about 350 people to be mental health first aiders, demand for our counselling services has trebled in the last year, and we are about to relaunch our Thrive app and our #KeepTalking campaign for the challenging winter months."
The panel session, held on World Mental Health Day and chaired by Heather Wildman of Saviour Associates, discussed a range of ways people could boost their personal resilience and help others.
John said he had a number of strategies, which included getting back into exercise, taking the chance to meet pals for lunch and a chat on a wet day, to the team at home who he said were all good at lifting one another when they might be having a bad day.
"But it is all about developing the things that are right for you," he added.
He added that there were times of the year he appreciated would be personally trying, and that he now knew he needed to have a full ‘wellbeing piggybank' before calving and lambing in spring.
"I know that I will need to do things such as going swimming beforehand so I go into those times with a full piggybank, and that I will need to top it up again afterwards."
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For Heather, meeting people and having a chat always helped, she said. "Even as a generally positive person, it can take a bit of a push for me to go to a meeting at times, but I always feel better for going.
"It is sometimes helpful to organise a carful to go, as getting people to go with you can help [make sure you go]."
Carol added getting away from the farm, even if only for a night, could be very helpful. "It is a chance to clear your head."
She also added that listening was a key skill people could develop and offer.
"Just listen - do not fill the gap. If people are looking away or down, they are probably thinking and processing. Listening is hard, but it is so important."
