Unit 8

On Feirm Ground

Aim of Workshop

To equip frontline agricultural advisors with the knowledge, skills and competencies to engage, support, and signpost farmers on health issues and to mainstream a health promotion focus into routine farming extension activities.

Objectives

Explore how to create a welcoming, inclusive and safe working
environment when engaging with farmers on health issues.
Consider the rationale for having a specific focus on farmers’ health,
including the unique challenges and stresses associated with
different demographic groups of farmers.
Reflect on how farming identity and farming masculinities influence the
values and attitudes that farmers develop in relation to their health and,
in turn, shape farmers’ health behaviours and health outcomes.
Offer participants the opportunity to reflect upon their own
personal talents and shortcomings in engaging with and
supporting farmers on health issues.
Equip participants with practical tips to recognise signs of
distress in farmers and to support farmers’ mental health.
Provide participants with practical tips to engage with and signpost
farmers who may be in distress to appropriate support services.
Explore advisors’ role in normalising health conversations and
mainstreaming a health promotion focus into routine extension
activities, including farm discussion groups.

One Day Workshop Programme Outline

TIME	SESSION	FOCUS
9:00am	Arrival / settling in	Registration Tea / coffee Pre-training evaluation forms
9.30am	Introduction	Welcome Housekeeping announcements Introductions Background to ‘On Feirm Ground’ Safety and boundaries (what this training is / is not) Developing a group contract / ground rules Model of working together
10.00am	Why farmers’ health?	Positive aspects of farming – community, crucial role of farming in Irish economy, international record, meitheal and tradition Rationale and evidence base for having a specific focus on farmers’ health Contemporary challenges impacting on farmers (personal and systemic) Applying a social determinants of health framework to profile ‘at-risk’ groups of farmers
10.50am	Break
11.10am	Farming identity and farming masculinities	Key unwritten rules for farmers in the framing of farming identity Prevailing rural and farming masculinity norms and their relationship with health Narratives about farming masculinities and approach to health and help-seeking
Noon	Advisors as ‘health connectors’	Consideration of a ‘health connector’ role in relation to farm discussion groups and one-to-one situations Personal strengths and weaknesses in relation to working with farmers, more broadly, and in relation to health, specifically Roles, responsibilities and boundaries Minding the minders – how are advisors minding themselves and how could they be supported more?
12.50pm	Lunch
1.40pm	Recognising the ‘signs’ of distress in farmers	Key indicators of farmers’ mental health Reading ‘the signs’ of distress Practical tips to support farmers’ mental health and wellbeing and to cope with the pressures of farming
2.25pm	Responding to farmers in distress	Appropriate strategies to deal with distress or disclosure Signposting to appropriate support services
3.10pm	Comfort Break
3.20pm	Mainstreaming farmers’ health within the context of extension	Learning from key milestones, to date, in farmers’ health Top tips on things to do to actively engage farmers Potential actions, activities or events that could happen within or through farming activities, including farm discussion groups
4.00pm	Pulling it all together	Synopsis of issues covered Evaluation forms Signposting to sources of information, help and support Final round of feedback
4.30pm	Finish

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Testimonials

I suppose doing ‘On Feirm Ground’, it helped me to see that poor health can be very common across the client base. I think it can be hard to try to help someone that is under pressure but with this training it has helped me in ways of addressing these types of situations Really it has raised awareness of what we can do to help farmers and where we can also look for help for them if they require it.

The ‘On Feirm Ground’ programme definitely made me more aware to monitor farmers well being and to encourage them to seek help.

After taking part in ‘On Feirm Ground’, when going out on the farm I feel more confident when harder and more personal subjects are bought up by the farmer. I know the right questions to ask and what signs to look for instead of not knowing what to say to try and help the situation. Having this knowledge is a great advantage as you are never worried going into a farm of not knowing what to say or not saying the correct thing and making the situation worse.

‘On Feirm Ground’ has improved my understanding of how Agricultural Advisors can more effectively engage in supportive communications with farmers

I thought the ‘On Feirm Ground’ training was very good, I am much more aware of how to spot the signs of someone in distress, and comfortable enough in opening the conversation with most of my clients. The EARS approach is very effective.

Since ‘partaking in the On Feirm Ground’ training, I have tried to be more open to talking to farmers about issues they may have physically or mentally and encourage them to get help they needed if it is not already sought.