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Man standing on land via Sbutterstock

Sharp increase in suicidal farmers calling helpline over financial troubles

Financial woes and the fodder shortage has left many farmers in an extremely difficult situation, says suicide prevention charity Console.

INCREASED STRESS HAS led to a massive jump in the number of farmers ringing a special rural helpline over the past six months.

Suicide prevention charity Console said calls to its farm and rural stress helpline increased by over 300 per cent as financial woes and the fodder shortage left many farmers in an extremely difficult situation.

The charity received more than 5,200 phone calls between March and September, compared to just over 1,300 in the previous six months.

“Often callers to the helpline are in great emotional pain and many are on the brink of ending their own lives,” said Console CEO Paul Kelly.

Kelly said that the biggest problems for callers are money worries, rural isolation, and loneliness.

He cited the fodder crisis earlier this year – when farmers began to run out of dried hay and feed for cattle because of the unexpectedly cold and wet winter – as being a major source of worry for many farmers which put a strain on marriages and relationships.

“Farmers are naturally private people, they tend not to talk about their problems but to suffer in silence,” said Kelly.

If you are in a tough situation and need to talk to someone about it, try here:

  • Samaritans 1850 60 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org
  • Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634
  • Console 1800 201 890
  • Console’s Farm and Rural Stress helpline 1800 742 645
  • Aware 1890 303 302
  • Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie

Read: Payments under €125 million scheme for disadvantaged farmers start today >

Read: More than 81% of farmers support gun ownership rights >

Read: Survey finds 63 per cent of farmers agree with abortion legislation >

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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Jun 9th 2015, 9:00 AM

    Fruit flavored malt beer blast endorsed by snoop dog… That’s a thing now?

    May God have mercy on our souls.

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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jun 9th 2015, 9:17 AM

    ” Snoopy Snoopy dog dog ” – Fr. Ted. Crilly.

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    Mute james sullivan
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    Jun 9th 2015, 9:29 AM

    Sweet alcoholic energy drinks…what a time to be alive.

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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jun 9th 2015, 9:24 AM

    Colt45 is the preferred beverage at the World long distance puking championships.

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    Mute potty o shea
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    Jun 9th 2015, 9:06 AM

    I’d say he needs the money!

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    Mute J's Back
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    Jun 9th 2015, 9:05 AM

    Got your stereotypes all wrong Journal, PBR is the beer of the rednecks.

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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Jun 9th 2015, 10:37 AM

    Yeah but hipsters were drinking PBR way before rednecks thought it was cool.

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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jun 9th 2015, 10:46 AM

    Comments open on an ongoing court case in foreign jurisdiction? Make up your mind Journal! (On a side note Snoop is guilty)

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jun 9th 2015, 12:52 PM

    You answered your own question with the words “foreign jurisdiction”. It’s really not all that complicated.

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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jun 9th 2015, 3:24 PM

    If only Neal. The journal often closes comments on foreign trials.

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    Mute David McShite
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    Jun 9th 2015, 9:47 AM

    Ahhh snoop!
    White people’s favorite black rapper to make them feel cool and hip. The rap version of the 80s “heavy metal ” band Europe.

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    Mute Bill Jones
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    Jun 9th 2015, 10:05 AM

    I honestly don’t know where to start with this so I’m probably better off just leaving it…

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    Mute Bob Beaman
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    Jun 9th 2015, 11:53 AM

    It’s pure dog piss.

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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Jun 9th 2015, 7:27 PM

    There is ALOT of words in that article that mean nothing to me

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    Mute Kate Horgan
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    Jun 9th 2015, 7:46 PM

    Proof, as if it were needed, that hipsters are thick as two short planks nailed together with bricks. PBR is one of the worst beers in America. And that’s saying a lot.

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    Mute Ronan O Connor
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    Jun 9th 2015, 1:21 PM

    #PBR is top notch . Loves the shtuff!

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