Life and farm work are demanding both for the farmer and the family. The stress and struggles that emerge from this particular workplace setting are unique. It is also well documented that prolonged periods of stress, impact on mental and physical health such as anxiety depression, and heart disease respectively. Such a combination can inevitable lead to serious farm accidents /injuries self-harm and suicide.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicidal behaviour is associated with different outcomes and actions with varying degrees of lethality, such as suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, and completed suicide (World Health Organization . Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2014 and Word Health Organization . World Report on Violence and Health. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2002.).
Suicide in farming within the EU is well documented with France having a high statistic, and in Ireland it has been recorded that almost a quarter (23.4%) of Irish farmers are at risk of taking their own life, according to “stark” research figures released to coincide with Agri Mental Health Week.
The study, funded by the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention, was conducted by University College Dublin’s School of Agriculture and Food Science, and is based on a series of 10 one-to-one interviews with farmers, four focus groups, including one with industry professionals who deal directly with farmers, and a national survey carried out within the last four months. (https://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid-40982102.html
Bereavement by suicide shares many of the characteristics with other bereavements However it is also different.
Additional resources:
HUGG – Healing Untold Grief Grouoshttps://www.hugg.ie/surviving-a-suicide/
“Faced with a sudden, often unexpected, and sometimes violent death, the suicide bereaved experience a grief which typically includes strong feelings of guilt, self-reproach, and questioning – “why?”. Discomfort, shame, and self-stigma associated with suicide can make it difficult to talk about. There may be further challenges to face which are not common to ‘normal’ bereavements e.g., inquests, media coverage, trauma reactions and difficult family relationships”. Women and Men may experience Grief differently, women are more likely to express their feelings early after loss, reach out for social support, express more sorrow, experience depression, guilt, and they are more willing to talk about the loss.
As noted by EmbraceFARM https://embracefarm.com/supports/bereavement/
“Whereas men on the other hand are more likely to take on a managerial role, intellectualise their emotions, indicate feelings of anger, fear and loss of control, they also may use denial or be more private about grief”
The Encircle Programme focus is on assisting the emotional wellbeing of farm families through their loss and in turn with the practical support and information they may require on this journey. https://embracefarm.com/embrace-supports/encircle/
