In September, Halls Livestock Auction Centre in Oswestry hosted a mental health conference and workshop which was followed by a charity auction, the highest bid being for a 3 month-old Holstein heifer which realised £1000. There was an extensive program including speakers who had personal experience of mental health problems which although being diagnosed were not able in some cases to access professional help. In three of the cases this had resulted in the people involved starting up a new venture to offer help to others in similar circumstances. Emphasis was given to the risk factors endured by those involved in farming, and the need placed upon us all to look out for each other. In the afternoon we were given a brief introduction to their work by the three charities who benefited from the proceeds of the auction. They were Farming Community Network, DPJ Foundation, and Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy.
by Agricultural Chaplain David Dutton