Blether Together with Farmstrong Scotland

This episode is packed with info about Farmstrong Scotland's 'Foundations of Mental Health' programme - a direct response to findings from our recent surveys.
More than one in three respondents reported low levels of wellbeing - with scores falling below the national average across all age groups.
'Foundations of Mental Strength' - or FoMS - is a series of workshops designed to combat low wellbeing - and can be run by groups and organisations as a special day, or included in a package of other ongoing activities.
Huge thanks to both The Scottish Government Knowledge Transfer & Innovation Fund, and to the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, for providing funding to support the FoMS programme.
This episode features:
Kirsty Ritchie, mental health consultant and founder of Mind and Mission. Kirsty was involved in devising the Foundations of Mental Health programme for Farmstrong.
Emily Grant, who's worked in Scottish agriculture for over 20 years, and trades as Forrit (Scots word for 'forward'). Emily is part of the team who deliver FOMS to groups and organisations across Scottish agriculture.
Find out more about the Foundations of Mental Strength programme here.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Bobby Stevenson took the difficult decision to sell his family dairy farm after facing a mental health crisis.
Bobby, from Lendalfoot in South Ayrshire, tells Sarah Stephen about his journey back from both a stroke and mental ill health - and how talking and sharing openly about his issues has helped his recovery.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Tommy Dale must have more hours in each day than the rest of us.
He's run Forth Resource Management and Caledonian Horticulture since 2002, when he started both as an SRUC student project to recycle, compost and re-use garden and landscaping waste.
He heads up Brose oat milk, works with Heriot-Watt University and others to run a lobster hatchery, and has a mission to clear plastic from Scotland's beaches, Scottish Coastal Clean Up.
And there's plenty more charity and social enterprise work beside all that!
He’s also been very generous in this chat for Farmstrong Scotland - sharing with Sarah the difficult lessons he learned in 2013, when he had a serious mental breakdown.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Sarah finds warmth on ice - and plenty of competition! - at the annual farmer's curling competition at Perth's Dewar Centre.
160 people from all over Scotland take part in the Chuck Hay Memorial Bonspiel, in teams of 4, over three days in January.
There is camaraderie and connection - which is especially important in the bleak dark month of January, when isolation can feel particularly pronounced.
In this episode:
event organisers and brothers Sandy and Dave Hay tell Sarah what the event is all about, and pay tribute to their father, Chuck Hay, a former curling world champion
sheep farmers Glen and Thomas Muirhead - brothers of Eve Muirhead - stop by to share thoughts on the competition
Farmstrong's own Alix Ritchie shares thoughts on why events like this are great for social connection and wellbeing

If listening to this episode has made you want to check out curling, please visit Scottish Curling's "Try Curling" website. It has info on all the ice rink venues across Scotland where there are organised taster sessions with qualified coaches. The sessions are open to anyone who wants to give it a go. You simply enter your postcode / location to get a list of times and venues. Link here:
Sandy Hay is a trustee for RSABI - whose 24-hour helpline (below) is available to anyone in Scottish agriculture, and who offer practical, emotional and financial support: https://www.rsabi.org.uk/
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

This is a groundbreaking episode of Blether Together - as Sarah Stephen meets our first ever husband and wife duo – Willie Thomson and Anna Davies.
Anna and Willie are tenants on a 250-acre arable farm near Haddington.
They recently converted a steading into co-working spaces. Anna also runs rural PR and marketing firm Scene and Herd, and hosts Scottish farming podcast OnFARM.
It’s a busy life – but recent health challenges for Willie have prompted a change in pace and approach.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.