Farming can be a very lonely and isolating occupation – many agricultural workers spend a vast majority of time on their own with hardly any social interaction. As there is still a stigma that exists around mental health, many members of the farming community have difficulty opening up and talking about how they feel. It comes as no surprise that according to ONS, approximately, more than one agricultural worker a week in the UK dies by suicide. There are many other factors that can contribute to their mental health -

Stress

Stress

Isolation – Farming is a seven days of the week job and we forget that farmers do not have the opportunities for a social life or even a chat with a neighbour. Adding loneliness to your problems does not make this job any easier

Stress - Stress is something that many farmers face at some point and is an important contributor to mental health problems. Mental stress can also be caused by a lot of factors, but it can add to the difficulties and can affect your judgement to make simple decisions

Weather - Weather is beyond a farmers control. It affects anything currently growing and living, and is constantly changing which in turn can alter a farmers mental state

Bad crops – this is weather and financially related, and if a farmer has bad crops, then in turn this will effect a farmers income

Livestock concerns – Working with livestock, particularly cattle, will always involve risk. Many injuries caused by cattle result in the farmer not being able to work for months, which can add to their mental health. Farmers need to manage the risk and ensure they have all the health and safety precautions at the ready!

Brexit – With Brexit on the horizon, some farmers only have their stock to rely on. Without the support from the EU, farmers are unsure what the future holds and they do not have the reassurance that their farm/families will be profitable and viable as they do not have anything else to fall back on

Financial concerns – A contributing factor for farmers is financial concerns, which results from market fluctuations, livestock disease or poor harvests, which can also be beyond their control.

Accidents – Farming is a hazardous occupation and despite everyone’s best intentions, accidents do happen. The results are devastating not only for the individual concerned but also affects to the way the farm business is run and managed

No plans / strategies in place – Being in the habit of ‘working it out yourself’, which makes it difficult to seek help when it’s difficult to cope. Some farmers may not know their future of their farm/working life, which also can decrease their motivation

Home life / marital issues – Being a farmer is a full-time job, being apart from the family/partner/wife can take its toll. This on top of all the other stresses, can in turn affect a farmers mental state

To help farmers, the Farm Safety Foundation has introduced their inaugural ‘Mind Your Head’ Campaign which aims to encourage farmers and farming families not to neglect themselves, but to put themselves first, ‘open up’ and get some help and advice on whatever concerns they have.

According to Gina Fusco, Chair of Trustees of the Farm Safety Foundation; “Mental Health is an issue that is very much at the heart of the farming community but one that few farmers feel comfortable discussing. The purpose of this ‘Mind Your Head campaign’ is to encourage conversations and address the stigma surrounding mental wellbeing. It’s about looking out for each other, reminding farmers to “Mind Your Head’ and letting them know that there are organisations out there who want to help. The pressures of farming aren’t going to disappear, so as a farmer you need resilience, smart strategies and specific skills to live well and farm well. The first step to improving your mental wellbeing can be as simple as talking to someone.”

The Farm Safety Foundation is bringing together key organisations in the industry to work together for this campaign in the hope that farmers and their families know where, when and how to seek help when they need it. Organisations such as the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Rural Support and the Farming Community Network (FCN), a voluntary organisation providing pastoral and practical support for farmers and farming families, who are going through difficult times. In FCN’s case, many of the 400 plus volunteers are involved in farming and have a unique understanding of the issues facing the agricultural industry.

For more information on ‘Mind Your Head’ or any of the organisations mentioned in the article, visit www.yellowwellies.org or follow @yellowwelliesUK on Twitter/Facebook using the hashtag #MindYourHead

Tagged in