Taking Stock

What is Taking Stock?

In March 2025, Healthy Ireland Local Government (HILG) for Galway, Roscommon, and Mayo collaborated on a Farmer Wellbeing Initiative, which supported education in several areas, including physical health, cardiovascular health, mental health, financial planning, succession, and the subsequent stress on overall health.

Taking Stock of Farmer's Health was broadcast on radio each Tuesday in March on the Agri Programme with Keith Fahy on Galway Bay FM. Each week, expert guest speakers discussed various topics, including farm succession, financial planning, cardiovascular health, and work-life balance for farmers. Additionally, the information was available in the local Galway newspaper The Connaught Tribune, as well as local newspapers for counties, Mayo and Roscommon. Flyers were disseminated to farmers regionally to provide further information and to raise awareness of this relevant and important initiative.

This regional programme was run by Healthy Ireland Coordinators in partnership with Teagasc, IFA, HSE, Croi, and Mental Health Ireland.

Purpose 

Taking Stock aimed to address the health needs of farmers, a group often underserved in traditional mental health outreach. Farming communities face unique pressures - economic uncertainty, isolation, long hours, and the physical demands of the job - all of which contribute to elevated stress levels. Despite these challenges, mental health remains a difficult topic to discuss openly in rural areas, where cultural stigma and a strong sense of self-reliance can prevent individuals from seeking support.

The programme focused on early intervention and practical guidance, sharing tools that could be integrated into daily life. Drawing on the Five Ways to Wellbeing model, Taking Stock encouraged farmers to connect with others, stay physically active, take notice of small positives, continue learning, and give back to their communities. These simple, evidence-based actions were presented as ways to build resilience and maintain mental wellbeing in the face of ongoing challenges.

By engaging directly with farmers, their families, and farm advisors, Taking Stock helped raise awareness and promote a proactive approach to mental health. The programme also highlighted the importance of recognising what can and cannot be controlled - such as weather, policy, and market forces -and encouraged farmers to focus on adaptive strategies, contingency planning, and available supports. In doing so, it aimed to strengthen both individual wellbeing and the long-term sustainability of farm families.