Survey to check mental health of farmers

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 26

Suicide by farmers is an issue that needs to be addressed to and is a subject of great importance since so many farmers in the city have lost their lives. Punjab Agricultural University is conducting a survey on the mental health of farmers.

During the recently concluded Kisan Mela, the Department of Journalism of the university did a basic screening test of farmers on the World Health Organisation guidelines.

Manmeet Kaur, a student from the Department of Journalism said the department was conducting a survey on the mental well-being of the farmers.

“Every farmer visiting the stall was asked to fill the questioner and if the score was around 30, then he was asked to see the counselor,” Manmeet added.

Students wearing jackets with message encouraging the farmers to interact and solve their problems were seen during the mela. The project “Utshah” of the university is working towards the farmer suicide.

“We are asking the farmers to speak out, to discuss their problems with their friends and elders so that their issues can be resolved. Running away from problems is no solution and one should learn to deal with it,” said one of the councellors during the mela.

One of the farmers from Sunam said he was asked a few questions and then the professors at the camp started to make him understand the ways to deal with stress. I don’t know how they came to know that I was under stress but after talking to them, I am feeling better.”

Helpline numbers

Farmers who are under stress or want to talk to councellors can contact at 0161-2401960-363 and 0161-8360684948