NFU Scotland Stand to Focus on the Importance of Good Mental and Physical Health

The Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS) spring show returns to Thainstone on Wednesday 2 March from 8am - 5pm, and NFU Scotland members alongside their family and friends are invited to come along to The Union’s stand to discuss the importance of looking after our mental and physical health.

NFU Scotland’s Vice President Andrew Connon and National Operations Manager James Buchanan will be in attendance at the show and are looking forward to welcoming everyone onto the stand.

Representatives from partners at Robert Gordon’s University, Aberdeenshire Council, and NHS Grampian will be present throughout the day to meet with visitors. NHS Grampian’s Case Manager from Working Health Services Scotland (WHSS), Lyndsay Hay, will be offering farmers access to six free counselling sessions and four free physiotherapy sessions – members are encouraged to come along if they would like to learn more and/or access these confidential services.

The NFU Scotland stand numbers are M60 and M61 and will be found next to Norvite within the marquee.

Discussing the importance of continuing conversations about mental health in farming, NFU Scotland Regional Manager, Lorna Paterson, explained: “farming families can be significantly impacted by mental health issues because the industry is so demanding and risky – particularly at the moment.”

“We acknowledge that all of the uncertainties around future agricultural policy, land use, rising input costs, and unknowns surrounding prices for produce compound the situation. The wider agricultural industry is also suffering as a result of these pressures, so it is important that we at NFU Scotland recognise these issues and keep raising awareness within political arenas and the press.”

As part of the ongoing Art of Farming project, there will also be opportunities for visitors to learn about pottery from artist Nic Green who will be encouraging farmers to design a tile which will be used within Thainstone Mart to mark ANM’s recent 150th anniversary. It is hoped that 150 tiles will be produced by farmers at the show and will thereafter be displayed within the mart in recognition of the role agriculture plays within the community.

North East Regional Chair, Alan Simpson, said: “Our two Vice Chairs Bob Hay and Kevin Gilbert, as well as local farmer, Tom Johnston, have spent much time helping raise awareness about the benefits of introducing art into the farming community. We are indebted to them for the time spent promoting this subject to fellow members up here.”

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Contact Ruth Oxborrow on 07823 556253