A FARM and rural-stress helpline received close to 700 calls last year and calls increased in the past two months because of economic and weather problems.
The HSE South said 2009 presented many challenges to those living in rural areas in Kerry and Cork – both economically and with regard to the weather.
The HSE South’s Farm Rural Stress Helpline, 1800-742645, was initially targeted at farmers and those in rural areas. But the type of calls being received has altered as the recession deepens.
Brenda Crowley, Mental Health Resource Officer HSE South, said that previously many callers cited loneliness, isolation and depression. “These calls are still coming in but some callers are now also expressing concerns about the financial issues in relation to farming,” she said.
“Stress and anxiety are huge factors as many farmers have large loans taken out and are having huge difficulties getting grants and entitlements.”
A recent audit of the helpline showed that 55 per cent of callers were male, 62 per cent of callers were single and 50 per cent were living alone.
A total of 41 per cent of callers cited depression and suicidal thoughts as their major health problems while 40 per cent revealed they had previously received treatment for depression. Moreover, 43 per cent cited loneliness or no support as reasons for calling the helpline.
The number of calls also increased dramatically in the months of November and December when 75 and 100 callers contacted the helpline. The average up to then had been about 50 a month.
Séamus Boland of Irish Rural Link which campaigns for sustainable rural communities, said the poor weather and declining farm incomes were making rural link’s task much more difficult. “You can see even from the spell of bad weather that for many reasons rural areas are being ignored and while the main roads are being gritted, side roads to many communities have been left in terrible condition.”
He said this was just one of the many indications of the failure of central government to address the needs of the 40 per cent of the people of this State who live in what are classed rural areas.
He added that 2010 is designated the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, and he welcomed the recognition of rural disadvantage as a specific theme as it would shed some light on the plight of those in poverty in rural areas where deprivation is often hidden.
People often associate poverty with urban decay. But the overall numbers at risk of poverty is higher in rural areas than urban areas (18.7 per cent compared with 11.9 per cent), Mr Boland said. Rural poverty was more hidden and dispersed with isolation, limited job opportunities, lack of transport and distance from services all contributing.
He said the recent floods, which would take four months to clean up, would cost jobs and add to the problems facing rural Ireland. He urged the Government to look seriously at the damage – now the wave of public goodwill had eased although the problems still existed.