Improving farmer health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland

Background: Rural Support, the farm support charity for Northern Ireland, is leading on improving farmer health and wellbeing through an innovative co-designed project for older, male farmers at risk of social isolation. Rural Support strives to be proactive in supporting farming families by offering a holistic and tailored approach to complex and diverse issues affecting farming families and their businesses.

Approach: The mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of farmers is integral to farm business performance. Rural Support has taken a community development approach to health improvement and applied this to the farming community through the delivery of Plough On, a social connection project for older, male farmers. Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Plough On will support 375 farmers over a 5-year term (2021-2026) by establishing 17 groups in rural areas across Northern Ireland. Rural Support coordinate and promote the project regionally. Each local group is supported for an 18-month term by a Group Leader and volunteer with a monthly meeting or trip arranged on farming or rural heritage topics based on the interests and suggestions of the group members.

The project's core purpose is to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of farming men aged 65 and over through socialisation and participation in rural heritage/farming-based activities and excursions, encouraging individuals to get and stay well – physically and emotionally.

Results: To date, 12 groups have been established supporting 308 men. From the baseline and follow-up surveys completed with the first cohort of seven groups, 24% of men reported an overall improvement in health and wellbeing; 29% of men showed an improvement in positivity; and 28% showed an improvement in motivation. The project has reduced social isolation as 48% of men reported increased attendance at social and recreational activities, and 30% of men felt more connected to others.

The demand for membership of each group has exceeded capacity and interest has been continually expressed from areas with no groups in place. The demand and capacity for further delivery is reflected through the experience of the members of the first cohort of groups with 98% stating that they would recommend Plough On to others; 63% rating the project as excellent and the remaining 37% rating it as very good.

Implications: Rural Support’s Plough On project has addressed an unmet need in Northern Ireland’s farming community as older, male farmers manage the transition from full-time farming and lose their traditional networks and connections. The model provides social support for the farming men aligned to their health needs as a sub-set of the rural community who traditionally may not have prioritised their health and wellbeing during their demanding farming lives. The impact of the project has been felt by the individual men and their wider farming families. It is a successful health improvement initiative for the farming community of Northern Ireland which has the potential to be replicated and adapted to other regions of the United Kingdom, and internationally.