Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has praised the messaging at this year’s Royal Highland Show, saying it is heartening to hear agricultural organisations emphasise the importance of speaking out about mental health and wellbeing.

The annual agricultural show, which celebrated its 200th anniversary last year, brings together the best of Scotland’s food, drink, farming and rural life, giving visitors the chance to experience Scotland’s finest produce.

Attending the show today (Friday 23rd June), Ms Roddick said that it had been great to catch up with agricultural organisations such as NFU Scotland and the Scottish Young Farmers Association as well as Scottish mental health charity Change Mental Health, and said she had been pleased to see such a strong focus on mental health across the agriculture sector at this year’s show.

She said:

“It’s been fantastic to get around the show and chat with so many brilliant folk and organisations in the show park today, and it’s been heartening to see folk having such open conversations about mental health and wellbeing.

“We know that those in the agriculture sector experience disproportionately high levels of poor mental health, and I have spoken out about how this impacts so many across the Highlands & Islands in the parliament in the past.

“There is sadly still a lot of stigma around speaking out about your mental health and I think that is often especially true in this sector, but conversations like the ones folk are having here today and will continue to have throughout the weekend are what is going to break that stigma down.

“I want to thank all those who took the time to speak with me today and commend them on all their brilliant work.”