Some 1.7 million marriages and an estimated 0.7 million divorces took place in the EU in 2021, according to the most recent data available for the EU Member
Undoubtedly marriage break up is very stressful and upsetting irrespective of the reasons. When it does happen, professional advice is crucial to achieve the best outcomes for the parties concurred and family members.
Farming is not just a job it’s a way of life and for farming families, life on the farm and life at home are blended .It can be like living over the shop premises. Work is always at the doorstep. In most fam family situations, the spouse can also be the business partner silent or otherwise and responsible for a lot of the paperwork associated with regulations and compliance. Running a farm can put pressures on marriage and family relationships – long hours taken up by farming, important events missed, financial difficulties and so on. Any number of things can upset and lead to mental strain in a relationship.
Successful family farming requires a regular open honest dialogise between the parties. Such an approach can reduce the risk of the family farm business being put at risk perhaps ending up in a legal dispute, lead to mental and physical health problems and at worst suicide.
Victims of domestic violence often feel “fear, shame, stigma” about their situation and this, along with other factors, can hold them back from seeking the help and support they deserve and need”.
“Coercive control is a persistent pattern of controlling, coercive and threatening behaviour including all or some forms of domestic abuse (emotional, physical, financial, sexual including threats) by a boyfriend, partner, husband, or ex. It traps women in a relationship and makes it impossible or dangerous to leave.. Coercive control can damage a woman’s physical and emotional well-being.”
Successful family farming requires a regular open honest dialogise between the parties. Such an approach can reduce the risk of the family farm business being put at risk perhaps ending up in a legal dispute, lead to mental and physical health problems.
Check these resources from Ireland services:
Women’s Aid Ireland
It is important to note that men can also be the subject of these issues relating to domestic abuse and coercive control
CEO of Men’s Aid has stated said that when it comes to the farming community, it is “very conscious” of situations “behind front doors” where there are partners “that are controlling the farm, controlling the finances, controlling the family as well and indeed, part of that is [controlling] the dad, their husbands”. agriland.ie/farming-news/concerning-increase-in-farmers-seeking-help-for-domestic-violence/