Blether Together with Farmstrong Scotland

A true Scottish agriculture powerhouse, Caroline Millar opens up about the warning signs that made her realise it was time to prioritise her wellbeing, and how inspiration from New Zealand's approach to farming life led her to make lasting changes.
In this candid chat, first recorded for World Mental Health Day 2025, Caroline also shares the practical steps she's taken to build a healthier, more balanced life - for herself, her family, and the people she works with.
Listen now - and share with someone who needs a boost.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

Have you ever met a gin farmer? That's how Jenny McKerr of the Wee Farm Distillery introduces herself.
This episode is Jenny's story of how she and her husband Stephen have spent the last 10 years building up their business - a farm, a farm shop, and a distillery - as first-generation farmers on 45 acres in South Lanarkshire.
It's been a lot of work - but Jenny is also careful to prioritise family time, and says she always gets off farm when she needs to.
In 2026, she is a proud recipient of the very prestigious Kings Award for Sustainable Development.
She has been involved in the Rural Leadership programme. She was at SRUC, and is a member of Scottish Agritourism.
Find the Wee Farm Distillery online here.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

This episode is packed with info about Farmstrong Scotland's 'Foundations of Mental Health' programme - a direct response to findings from our recent surveys.
More than one in three respondents reported low levels of wellbeing - with scores falling below the national average across all age groups.
'Foundations of Mental Strength' - or FoMS - is a series of workshops designed to combat low wellbeing - and can be run by groups and organisations as a special day, or included in a package of other ongoing activities.
Huge thanks to both The Scottish Government Knowledge Transfer & Innovation Fund, and to the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, for providing funding to support the FoMS programme.
This episode features:
Kirsty Ritchie, mental health consultant and founder of Mind and Mission. Kirsty was involved in devising the Foundations of Mental Health programme for Farmstrong.
Emily Grant, who's worked in Scottish agriculture for over 20 years, and trades as Forrit (Scots word for 'forward'). Emily is part of the team who deliver FOMS to groups and organisations across Scottish agriculture.
Find out more about the Foundations of Mental Strength programme here.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Bobby Stevenson took the difficult decision to sell his family dairy farm after facing a mental health crisis.
Bobby, from Lendalfoot in South Ayrshire, tells Sarah Stephen about his journey back from both a stroke and mental ill health - and how talking and sharing openly about his issues has helped his recovery.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Tommy Dale must have more hours in each day than the rest of us.
He's run Forth Resource Management and Caledonian Horticulture since 2002, when he started both as an SRUC student project to recycle, compost and re-use garden and landscaping waste.
He heads up Brose oat milk, works with Heriot-Watt University and others to run a lobster hatchery, and has a mission to clear plastic from Scotland's beaches, Scottish Coastal Clean Up.
And there's plenty more charity and social enterprise work beside all that!
He’s also been very generous in this chat for Farmstrong Scotland - sharing with Sarah the difficult lessons he learned in 2013, when he had a serious mental breakdown.
How’s It Going?
Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.
Follow Us
Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.
Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.
Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.