Increase stress relief for farmers, UUP tells Sinn Fein Finance Minister
Mr Robert Carmichael, the East Londonderry Ulster Unionist Party Association Chairman, has said the Sinn Fein Stormont Finance Minister’s supposed new multi-year budget “needs a radical rethink to ensure increased and ring-fenced funding is made available to help farming families cope with the severe stresses and strains of working in the agricultural sector”.
Speaking on behalf of the UUP association, Mr Carmichael added: “In this respect, we as an association highly commend the work being done by the Rural Support helpline charity, which has already provided considerable advice to many farming families who are under pressure.
“While we welcome any existing funding for Rural Support from the departments of agriculture and health, we would also hope the Stormont Executive, and especially the Sinn Fein Finance Minister, would ensure specific funding is allocated to continue this valuable service.
“Our farming community, particularly in East Londonderry, has faced a vast mountain of challenges in past decades, including the European beef ban, the threats from BSE and Foot and Mouth, as well as the inheritance farm tax scandal, a potential bird flu pandemic, and TB to name a few.
“All of these stressful situations have naturally placed at times a terrible strain on our farming families. So often, we have read general reports about young people taking their own lives as a result of various circumstances throughout the Province.
“In the constant battle to preserve the emotional well-being of our agricultural workers, the role of Rural Network is in the frontline. It is, therefore, essential this charity receives as much help as possible.
“We do not want to see a nightmare scenario develop where because of the pressures of trying to make ends meet in modern agriculture, that farmers feel suicide is the only solution.
“We as an UUP association, therefore, appeal directly to anyone in our farming community who is facing emotional or stress problems to get in touch with Rural Network as soon as possible. We also highly commend the helpline volunteers who carry out a very worthwhile task,” said Mr Carmichael.