On World Suicide Prevention Day, RSABI is on a recruitment drive for a new role within the company, focused on suicide prevention within Scotland’s farming and crofting communities.
The new role is delivered in partnership with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) and will be the first full-time position of its kind within the charity.
The isolation of modern farming, combined with long working hours and the increased cost of living, are all factors which can impact the mental well-being of people.
One priority of RSABI is to improve understanding of suicide and increase awareness of ways everyone can help prevent it.
The role is set to add to a range of initiatives from RSABI to provide emotional support. Over the last two years, the charity has delivered mental health training, working with former Royal Marines at IED Training Solutions, to over 700 people working in the frontline of Scottish agriculture.
It also works closely with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) and has this summer started an ambitious programme of Suicide Prevention training with young farmers, working with Papyrus.
The charity has seen demand for free counselling services increase significantly over the past year, with over 1,000 sessions provided.
To tackle the reluctance of farmers to seek support, RSABI is rolling out a Health Hut initiative with a dedicated team of nurses at auction marts and agricultural shows.
A wellbeing app, Thrive Wellbeing, is also been provided free of charge.
Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI, said: “We know that sadly we are still losing far too many people of all ages in Scottish agriculture to suicide and too often our welfare team sees the devastating impact this has on families and friends bereaved by suicide. The impact of these deaths on our closeknit Scottish farming and crofting communities, is huge.
“As a charity we already work closely with many of Scotland’s mental health organisations and working in partnership with SAMH and having a dedicated individual in our team focused on communications, awareness-raising and engagement around suicide prevention will ensure we can take the benefits of this collaboration to a new level.
“Our new recruit will also lead on new research in the coming months to help us increase understanding of a great many factors relating to suicide in Scottish agriculture. This will help us to understand how RSABI, working in collaboration with many others, can raise awareness in our communities, help prevent suicides and support those bereaved by suicide.”
Dan Farthing, Head of Suicide Prevention at SAMH, said: “The agricultural sector has always been demanding. There is widespread lone working and highly intensive long working hours, particularly at peak times of the year. However, people are now facing mounting pressures as the economics of farming change.
“Climate change and workforce challenges are adding considerably to those pressures, and we are concerned that is adding to the risk of suicide in the community. This partnership with RSABI is really important as a step towards improving the understanding of suicide in the sector and creating opportunities to have meaningful conversations about suicide in farming communities to reduce risk. We’re grateful to RSABI for working with us and look forward to the work we’ll do together.”