Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the initiatives in place to tackle depression and isolation amongst members of the farming community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40655/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health and Children, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the HSE, the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, the National Service Users Executive and the Irish College of General Practitioners have developed a strategy for an interagency response to deal with human health/welfare issues among the farming community. Three pilot sites were identified - Counties Sligo, Mayo and Offaly - and links were fostered between the District Veterinary Offices, the HSE Local Health Managers and in Offaly, the Offaly Local Development Company. As a result of this work, a model of good practice has been agreed which will be used at regional level where the need arises to support farmers experiencing social or health related issues.

The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) supports a number of programmes and initiatives relating to suicide prevention within the farming and rural communities including the National Farm TV Mental Health Awareness Campaign, the Rural and Farm Stress Helpline and the Veterinary Assistance Programme. The ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and SafeTalk training programmes have also been provided to key groups working and living in rural communities.

NOSP is taking the lead in relation to a wider programme of work with key stakeholders to address the issue of mental health and suicide within the farming sector. The aim of the programme is to identify mechanisms through which existing resources, programmes or new initiatives can be interlinked and intensified, and the first stakeholder meeting will be held in December 2010.