This month Gallantium will start filming for the first in a series of films to support the positive mental health of farmers throughout the UK. The farming faces unique challenges and the rate of suicide in the community is disproportionately high.
Why is this content needed? There are already charities doing excellent work providing training and peer-to-peer support for farmers. But there is still a problem in reaching vulnerable farmers in the first place. Not everyone wants to openly discuss their personal problems and so our project delivers remote learning content that can be accessed by farmers for free, and anonymously.
Our first shoots will take place in Wales and today, on World Mental Health Day, I am thinking of Len Eadon, a 22-year-old farmer who had everything to live for but took his own life in 2022. I recently spoke to his parents, Andy and Lynda, who are keeping Len’s memory alive through their charity Len’s Light. Whilst learning to cope with an unimaginable loss they are working to raise awareness on the mental health and suicide challenges faced by the rural community with the focus being on positive mental health.
Andy Eadon has a five-a-day challenge and although it’s aimed at farmers it works for anyone and so I’d like to share it:
- Be honest with yourself and those around you.
- Talk openly about daily challenges and be prepared to listen.
- Care for yourself as you care for others.
- Contact that person you’ve been telling yourself you should.
- Plan for the unexpected and make the right choices.
The onus is on all of us to look out for each other.
Think of that one person you know who might be facing challenges and is behaving slightly differently than normal. Why not give them a call and check they’re OK?
