Scottish Farmers Launch Farmstrong to Promote Wellbeing

Mr Gibson, a farmer from Forres along the Moray coast, opened up about how it can be hard to take a step back and focus on your wellbeing when farm life become tough and the obstacles pile up.

“We’re all very good at talking about animal health, soil health, crop health, and all these things. I would like it to become as normal to talk about human health and how we look after ourselves as well as our livestock.”

Another farmer from Fearn Farm in Ross-shire, John Scott, remarked that because working in the agricultural sector is so uncommon now, it is hard to build relationships where people relate to their problems.

The hardships incurred by farmers has been escalated by the economic crisis. Costs are now “through the roof” and that hiring available workers is a regular challenge.

Mr Scott expressed that in this industry “you do feel lonely. You’ve got to try to change habits and look at ways you can actually recharge.”

John Gibson and Jock Scott are working together to launch an early intervention wellness plan ‘Farmstrong’ to help farmers learn how to “live well, farm well, and get the most out of life.”

“It looks at various things from improving sleep, to more exercise – and there’s a big part of it which is peer learning. So farmers are getting off-farm and speaking to their peers, learning about what they do to actually look after themselves, and focus on making sure they’re physically and mentally fit.”

There are “times of the year” when farmers like Mr Scott “struggle”, but he knows he “can lift the phone and vice-versa.”
Following substantial financial backing, Farmstrong will start in Scotland over the next few months.

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