MEMBERS OF MACRA na Feirme, a national organisation for young adults from farming backgrounds, have produced a calendar aimed at promoting positive mental health.

Funds raised from the calendar will go towards St Patrick’s Walk in My Shoes campaign.

Macra has described the calendar as a “tongue in cheek” look at farming.

Áine O’ Callaghan, from Termonfeckin Macra in Co Louth, said she wanted to appear in the calendar because she knows too many people who have taken their own lives in the farming community – particularly young men.

The amount of people I know involved in agriculture who have taken their own lives is too high. You’d do anything you can to help.

I do know a lot, too many, young men who have gone down that route. I’m hearing too much of it in the last three to five years.

Áine noted that some men want to give off the impression they’re a “big tough farming lad and nothing gets to them”, but said attitudes are changing and people are becoming more comfortable with discussing their emotions.

A recent survey carried out by the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy found that 25% of respondents from the farming community said they would have difficulty discussing their personal problems.

Áine works in a pharmacy, but her father and boyfriend are both farmers.

She said taking part in the shoot was daunting but noted: “Everyone was in the same boat. We all mucked in and had great craic. You knew you were doing something good.”