Operational Group - Mental wellbeing starts at school

Country: Belgium

Wellbeing of Farmers:  Mental Wellbeing, Social Wellbeing

Key Challenges: Lack or difficulties in accessing health services

Key Target Groups: Young farmers, Female farmers, Older farmers

Farm Size: Small/Family, Medium, Large

Find Out More

Key contact: Lene Cillen

Email: lene.cillen@ilvo.vlaanderen.be

Organization: Vlaams Instituut Gezond Leven, in collaboration with Boeren op een Kruispunt, ILVO and farmer youth organizations (Jong ABS + Groene Kring)

Relevant Links:

Oproep 2021 | Departement Landbouw & Visserij 

Summary

Development of course material about mental health literacy for agricultural higher education institutions. These materials will be developed throughout 2022 through test phases with students and in co-creation with young farmers.

In a second stage, a more permanent implementation will be prepared wherein free course materials will be made available for all agricultural training services in higher education.

Objective

Increasing mental health literacy among farmers

Activities 

Development of course materials on mental health literacy for agricultural higher education institutions..

Main Outcome of the activity

Increase in mental health literacy among farmers

Main Practical Recommendations

Targeting farmers wellbeing through higher education institutions enables great impact by reaching:

1) young farmers,

2) reaching a nation-wide audience through these institutions


Key Stakeholders Involved

Students, teachers, farmers, farming organizations, mental health aid organizations


Most Innovative Aspects of the Solution

Tackling mental health through proactive involvement in higher education institutions. This allows for reaching a nationwide audience + specific focus on young farmers, increasing impact