FOR many of our farmers this is a time of minimum sleep and maximum worry, writes FUW president Glyn Roberts.

Between the sleepless nights and long days of lambing and calving, with SAF application deadlines looming and the proposed changes in NVZ regulations causing worry with their financial implications, it’s little wonder that taking care of themselves is way down the list of priorities.

But with Stress Awareness Month now upon us and the spotlight very much on taking care of ourselves and each other, there is no better time to take a minute and reflect on what issues are causing the most stress and tackling them head on.

This year’s theme is 'Community', with an emphasis on loneliness and isolation which for farmers can be a daily concern with the lack of socialisation and support which are lacking in their day-to-day activities.

However, it isn’t just social isolation that can cause loneliness but also the lack of human interaction on a daily basis due to the work carried out by our farmers which means that they aren’t seeing or speaking to anyone for days on end.

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These days, communities are also still recovering from the enforced lockdown regulations with many services and societies still only just emerging from being closed, and some not reopening at all because of the continued increase in Covid cases we have seen since restrictions were eased last month.

It is even more important in these uncertain and worrying times to reach out and share the load with friends, family or even strangers at the end of the phone.

Organisations such as our chosen charity The DPJ Foundation offer a 24-hour helpline with someone on the other end of the phone to listen or talk, whichever you prefer.

The service is available in Welsh and English and offers support to anyone who is struggling. 

So remember, if you are worried about yourself, a family member or friend, reach out and ask for help before it’s too late.