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Young farmers embarrassed to ask for support, says mental health charity

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Article contains content some readers may find distressing

A suicide prevention charity on the Isle of Man says there's still a lot of stigma around mental health and suicide and there is a reluctance, in the farming community, to talk about it. 

According to Isle Stand Up to Suicide poor mental health is the biggest challenge facing farming these days - with loneliness, effects of the weather and worrying about crops the common themes. 

Nicola Curphey and Paula Dunlop from the charity have held a talk with young farmers on the Island but have seen a perception that speaking out is weak. 

Nicola's father took his own life when she was just 17.

She told Manx Radio: 'One of the things that struck me was that my dad was never mentioned again, really. I think it's important that we're brave enough to speak about it.'

Simon Clarke has been speaking to Nicola and Paula about what can be done to get farmers to talk openly about their mental health:

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