Helping farmers and families find balance

Rural Support has kick-started a brand new digital campaign which is part of its new Reviving Rural project.

The initiative, which will be rolled out over the next two years, focuses on both the physical and mental wellbeing of farmers and farming families in Northern Ireland.

Funded by the Department of Health Mental Health Fund via the Community Foundation, the project will do two key things to expand the breadth of support already offered by the organisation through its farm business mentoring programme:

Firstly, it will provide, where needed, one to one professional counselling and trauma therapy support for farmers and farming families who are in crisis situations, including those affected by farm accidents, loss, bereavement, and trauma working with all members of the farming family.

And secondly it will build on its preventative services and programmes by providing digital resources and targeted campaigns to help farmers and farming families to access information, learn new skills and work together to manage risks and plan for healthier mental and physical health.

This aspect of the project will include working with women and young people in agriculture to help them develop new habits and emotional toolkits to navigate their mental wellbeing and learn how to best support other farming family members.

This week the team has launched the first digital campaign for Reviving Rural, focusing on young people and how to find a work life balance.

Its message is about the importance of finding a balance that works for you between your work and personal life.

Through this digital campaign, Rural Support is providing helpful tips on how you can achieve a better work life balance through small changes you can incorporate into your daily routine.

Kellie Rouse, who is a current mentor and volunteer with Rural Support, has been sharing her top tips on how she achieves a work life balance across Rural Support’s social media channels.

Kellie is a very busy person who is currently studying, helps on her family farm, holds down a job and gives her time to Rural Support, a perfect example of a busy person making the time to find the work life balance that works for them.

Kellie commented: “It is important to recognise all your commitments and manage them across the working week – making time to get off-farm and do what you love.

“Also factor in time to sit down and plan your business with all parties involved.

“I ensure that I keep a few hours each week free, for me to relax, unwind and switch off.

“This usually involves going for a walk, seeing my friends or spending time with my family.”

Make sure you check out Rural Support’s social media channels to hear more from Kellie and ideas about how you can achieve a better work life balance.

This is the first of eight digital campaigns which form part of the Reviving Rural project.

Through delivery of this project Rural Support is continuing to take practical steps to support farmers and farming families in building resilience.

n If you would like to find out more about this project and other services and programmes available at Rural Support, go to the NI Farm Support hub at www.ruralsupport.org.uk or telephone the Support Line on Freephone 0800 138 1678 available Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm.