Rural Support extends Financial Stress initiative

Rural Support is delighted to announce that it is to extend its ‘Tackling Rural Stress: Promoting Positive Mental Health’ project until March 2016.  With funding from the Public Health Agency (PHA), Rural Support will continue to help address the financial stress which farmers and farm families are currently under and also the impact which stress can have on an individual’s health and wellbeing.   

The project which was initially launched in September 2014 had substantial uptake, with 106 individuals, including family members, availing of the one to one mentoring being provided to address financial problems within the farm business. 

Individuals availing of support were from farm enterprises of all types. Farm sizes ranged from very small farm businesses to those in excess of 600 acres. Financial issues facing individuals included declining farm incomes and the impact of current market prices, those with insufficient income to cover borrowings and those operating on high levels of borrowing or credit from other suppliers. The circumstances of each person who contacted Rural Support was addressed individually and a finance mentor was appointed to support the individual to identify a way forward and take positive action to address issues of concern. In all cases this had a positive impact on the well-being of the individuals concerned.

An independent evaluation of the initial pilot project was completed in June.  Clients were extremely positive about the specialised and practical support provided.  It appeared that in many cases individuals were dealing with financial pressures alone and found it very beneficial to have the support of an independent person to listen and help them to find a way forward.  One client stated that the mentoring, ‘gave me confidence to deal with my personal situation’, another commented ‘I had severe depression and stress with financial pressures.  I knew I needed to do something but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  The mentor gave me the pointers and encouragement.’  

With the current economic climate and market conditions, farm income is declining and inconsistent and in many cases farm business owners are struggling with their cash flow and finding it difficult to make ends meet.  Furthermore the changes as a result of CAP Reform will have a huge financial implication for some farmers in relation to their Single Farm Payment.  Those with high payments per acre may see income drop fairly quickly resulting in a substantial loss to cash flow and profitability.   

For some the pressure of the situation and uncertainty about the future can build up and it can seem like things are closing in around them, the situation can escalate very quickly if it’s not addressed.  Rural Support’s message is that it is a positive step to ask for help.  Often getting another perspective on issues you are experiencing can be an opportunity to identify options and find a way forward.  Through financial mentoring you could be supported to do this.         

If you are experiencing financial stress Rural Support can provide up to three sessions of free, confidential, face to face support from a Finance Mentor to analyse your current financial/farm business position and help prioritise actions which may improve the situation.  This may include considering changes to the farm business and developing a future plan.  Rural Support will support you to take action to address financial problems and this should help ease the burden of dealing with financial stress alone.

Rural Support urges anyone who is experiencing worry or stress regarding their financial situation to contact their helpline to find out about how they can get help.

 If you are interested in availing of the financial mentoring currently being provided by Rural Support then all it requires is an initial call to the helpline – 0845 606 7 607.  The helpline is available from 8am-11pm seven days a week (voicemail and support options available at all other times).