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More help needed to support mental health of farmers
13/02/2023
94% of farmers under 40 agreed that poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing the industry
The sixth annual Mind Your Head campaign takes place this week, organised by the Farm Safety Foundation – known as Yellow Wellies.
It aims to continue to break down the stigma attached to poor mental health in the farming sector and to recognise how the current pressures on farmers impacts on their mental health and their ability to farm safely.
A recent study by the charity revealed that in a sample of 450 farmers under 40, 94% agreed that poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing the industry today.
Issues affecting the farming community include continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit, the global pandemic, supply chain shortages, the war in Ukraine and most recently issues with the egg and poultry sector.
Like many in the country, farmers are also struggling with spiralling costs. The price of fertiliser has trebled and the red diesel (which farmers use) has doubled.
Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation said: “Our research shows that levels of mental health in farming are deteriorating and it is being propelled by – in addition to many other things – the current political climate, stress caused by Covid and its aftermath, spiralling costs and continuing barriers to adequate care for many people living and working in the rural community.
“Farmers also recognise that there are barriers to ‘opening up’ about their mental health however, having ‘no one to talk to’ was not seen as a significant barrier. This is because we have fantastic farming charities and rural support groups operating in the UK.
“However, calls to rural support helplines have increased or become more complex over the past three years…
“Urgent action is needed to support the ongoing mental health of our farmers. We need to take the pressure off these rural support groups and charities who are increasingly relied upon to provide support for those in crisis situations.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam