Mental health is one of the biggest hidden problems facing farmers today, however, Perthshire Agricultural Discussion Society (PADS) is doing its bit in encouraging the farming community and it's members that there's more to life outwith the farm perimeter.

Today's generation have been brought up with different views and experiences regarding mental health than that of previous generations, which are staggeringly different and many in the oldest generation think of mental health related issues as ‘taboo’, and will not entertain a conversation.

However, PADS offer the local farming community a series of agricultural-related trips, talks and social events to encourage it's members to get off the farm more often and integrate with other like-minded individuals.

"The group is comprised of members aged between 30 and 90-years-old, so you have a vast age range, but it is really nice to see some of the younger farming generation mix with those that came before them and find common interests," pointed out the recently retired chairman of PADS, Scott Black.

"PADS encourages farmers to get out of the house and off the farm, and the group is there to be utilised by people from all different kinds of backgrounds and you do not have to be a farmer to be a member.

"The group was founded by two individuals, Andrew Sinclair and Alastair Johnston, and I was encouraged to go along with a number of other Kinross-shire farmers to engage in conversation about various countryside-related topics. The group now consists of some 50 people now, which is fantastic to see," he added.

Outwith the busy times of the farming calendar, PADS undertakes a summer and winter trip where it's members travel to other agricultural businesses for tours, as well as coming together and enjoying a meal afterwards.

"Our summer and winter trips usually last a few days and we like to try and visit different agricultural organisations and businesses, as a way of allowing our members to learn about other aspects of the industry they wouldn't normally be able to visit," Scott added.

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Previous trips included a storage facility tour of some local businesses including the Laird family impressive dairy stock sheds at Blyth Bridge; GS Dagg and Sons' potato sheds, at Jedburgh; JG Shanks and Sons' glasshouse at Hawick; and BHC's steel facility in Carnwath, to name but a few.

The group had also undertaken a two-day trip to visit the JCB factory, in Uttoxeter, as well as the company's farming estate to hear about their organic arable production, plus deer, beef, sheep and free-range hen enterprises, back in 2016.

"Our most recent winter trip, last year, witnessed the group heading to Mackies Crisps, which was a really interesting visit for a lot of our members, as well as a Christmas night out to the Scottish Air Ambulance Service, in Scone, followed by a gin tasting experience at the Royal George Hotel," Scott explained.

"We are not a profit-making society and really focus on trying to get our local farming community together and the farm and heavy work commitments. Any money we do collect is donated, with the society recently awarding £250 apiece to RSABI and the Scottish Air Ambulance," he added.

"It is really important to include the older farming generation who are missing the markets and who don't have a good social life, with many of them looking forward to our society meetings and the trips.

"Mental health is a big topic in agriculture at the moment and quite honestly, I didn't know much about RSABI until PADS held a meeting with one of their speakers. This meeting was encouraging enough for one of our own group members to speak out and talk in-depth about his experience with poor mental health, which was really touching and highlighted how important this group is to some people.

"I would encourage anyone to get in touch with their local district group and get involved as I have found it to be one of my most enjoyable experiences. If you don't try something, you'll never know if you'll like it and it really does provide a great stress outlet for those within the farming community," Scott concluded.