The Irish Farmers Association has launched its 2025 Farmer Health Checks Programme, which will see checks set up at livestock marts across the country over the next 14 months. Farmer Health Checks will also be available at the Tullamore Show next month, and the National Ploughing Championships in September.
The IFA has partnered with Croí Heart & Stroke Charity for the programme, which is supported by DAFM after an open call for farm safety, health and wellbeing projects.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at Ballymahon Livestock Mart in Longford, IFA President Francie Gorman encouraged farmers to take the time to attend their nearest health check and to be more “conscious of their health in challenging times for agriculture.”
“As a farmer and IFA President, I am delighted that we are running this important project once again, with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,” Mr Gorman said.
“Following a very successful rollout last year, this initiative provides a great opportunity for farmers to participate in a health check process at a time and place that suits them. This year’s launch is also timely as it falls during Farm Safety Week. Having peace of mind that your health is good is important in facing daily tasks that carry risks,” he added.
Mr Gorman previously said that access to services is currently an issue for many farmers, as he spoke about his own recent health challenges.
“GPs are very, very busy. You have to make an appointment and then subsequently you have to go and wait for an appointment with a consultant. And in a lot of cases, you just say, ‘I don’t need it.’ I was talking to a friend of mine in Galway who had similar symptoms to myself, and he said that his arteries are blocked again. Then, I felt I better get myself checked out. Initially they found a problem with my haemoglobin – it was on the floor – they went looking for the reason why, and they discovered a tumour in my pancreas,” Mr Gorman explained.
This resulted in him needing surgery at a Dublin Hospital, with the IFA boss saying he was told he had “won the lotto” as he had been “proactive” about his health.
“In the middle of February, I had more than half of my pancreas removed at St. Vincent’s in Dublin. They managed to leave my spleen, and thankfully, the tests that have shown up so far are clear. Basically, I was told going out the door I won the lotto. If I hadn’t have been as proactive as I was about it, I think in maybe two, three years time, I could be in a much worse place. So, all round, very lucky.
“We’re heading into farm safety week and I think a key aspect of farm safety week is about your own health, and your own mental health and wellbeing. I think it’s very important if you feel that you’re under pressure in any shape or form, whether physically or mentally, that you confide in somebody and you go and get yourself looked after in the quickest possible way.”
Minister of State with special responsibility for Farm Safety, Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, said he was delighted to support this expanded programme which the IFA says will help address the health and wellbeing challenges faced by the farming community, and to build on the success of last year’s pilot programme.
“Last year, almost half of participants who availed of the health checks presented with elevated blood pressure or cholesterol levels. This demonstrates the need for farmers to prioritise their health and wellbeing, and I am urging all farmers to take the time to avail of these free health checks.”
Commenting on the new programme, IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs chair Teresa Roche said farming is a way of life that brings unique pressures.
“Often the focus is on the health of our livestock and land rather than on our own health and wellbeing. This programme is a practical reminder that looking after yourself is part of running a strong, sustainable farm,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive of Cross Heart and Stroke Charity Mark O’Donnell said Croí is proud to continue their partnership with the IFA on this important initiative.
“Up to 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable, and these free health checks give farmers a real chance to take control of their health. By bringing early detection and expert advice directly to marts, we’re making it easier for farmers to take a simple, practical step that could change — or even save — their lives.”
Recent data from the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention found that 23.4 per cent of farmers are considered to be at risk of suicide, a figure which is significantly higher than the general population.
€2.5 million is being allocated this year to safety and mental health initiatives tailored specifically for farmers.
Among such initiatives receiving support, as reported earlier this month by Agriland, is On Feirm Ground 2’, a national training programme targeted at equipping agricultural advisers, vets, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) staff, and farm organisation members with the tools to identify and support farmers experiencing mental health issues.
Recently, Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere called for more awareness of the mental health challenges facing Ireland’s farming community – with TD encouraging farmers who are feeling overwhelmed or struggling with their mental health to seek out supports.
“If you’re feeling under pressure or finding it hard to cope, speak to someone, your agricultural adviser, your vet, your local IFA rep.
“They can connect you with the right supports. There is no shame in asking for help,” Deputy Cleere said.