Gill Wilson created the work over the summer, in her studio which is based on the family farm at Loanleven, near Perth where she lives with her husband Randal.

Taking her inspiration from RSABI’s #KeepTalking message, which aims to encourage people in the farming community to look out for each other and stay connected, Gill’s work features a range of beautiful farming scenes, including hares, ducks and hens. 

Gill has gifted the rights to use the artwork to the charity, which is this week launching a selection of beautiful gifts featuring her work – including tea-towels and fine bone china mugs.

Carol McLaren, RSABI CEO, said the charity had approached Gill back in July with the concept of producing images which could be used in a variety of ways to help raise awareness of the challenges of loneliness and isolation in farming.

“We were bowled over when Gill not only offered to come up with ideas for the artwork, but also chose to gift them to us. After working for several weeks she produced a range of design options for us – all with the theme of the importance of talking and staying connected.

“The drawings and watercolours include some light-hearted images such as chattering hens, and playful hares, as well as a powerful image of a solitary farmer seated beside his working collie, taking a moment to enjoy the company of his loyal working companion.”

Gill’s work can be found, along with other gift ideas, in the RSABI shop at www.rsabi.org.uk/shop

Vital funds

RSABI has also launched a collection of farming-themed festive greetings cards, now also available to purchase at the online shop.

Income raised from the card and gift sales will provide RSABI with vital funds to continue its work to provide financial, practical, and emotional support to people involved in Scottish agriculture.

Pauline Macmillan, head of fundraising at RSABI, said: “The run up to Christmas is a very important time for fundraising for RSABI. As a charity, we rely on the kind donations of our supporters, and income from initiatives like our Christmas card sales and gifts allows us to continue providing essential services to those in the farming community who may be struggling.

“Our thanks go to everyone who chooses to support us with the purchase of cards or gifts this Christmas – your support is hugely appreciated.”

The charity is also calling for people looking to get ahead with gifting this Christmas to consider the gift of an RSABI Supporter Scheme membership, which will include a free #KeepTalking beanie hat worth £10.

RSABI offers free practical, financial, and emotional support including counselling services, delivered quickly after receiving the initial enquiry. Its free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 (calls won’t show up on phone bills) or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk.

The post Artist inspired by rural #KeepTalking campaign appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The podcast, which launches on all streaming platforms today (2^nd October), was partly inspired by RABI’s Big Farming Survey, which has become known as the biggest-ever research project into the mental health and wellbeing of the farming community.

The survey of 15,000 farmers across England and Wales found that one in three farming people are possibly or probably depressed, and that there is a strong link between the financial health of a farm business and the mental and physical health of the people running it.

Moreover, a shocking 92% of farmers under the age of 40 ranked poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing UK farmers today in a recent study by the Farm Safety Foundation, representing an increase from 82% in 2018.

Having grown up as a farmer’s son in the Cotswold Hills, Adam’s deep appreciation for the countryside is rooted in the family history. Since taking over the farm tenancy in 1999, he has been running the 650-hectare estate with friend Duncan Andrews, alongside Cotswold Farm Park, home to over 50 breeding flocks and herds of British rare breed farm animals.

Through his work as a farmer, author and BBC Countryfile presenter, Adam has a close connection with the farming community and understands all too well the challenges of the day to day running of a farming business.

“As anyone working in farming knows, every day brings potential joy and disaster – you never quite know what is going to happen and there are many things you can’t control. This is one of the reasons for the high suicide rate within the farming sector,” he pointed out.

After losing a close friend who died by suicide and learning about the troubling statistics around mental health in farming, Adam was compelled to work with a professional production team to create a series of podcasts to help alleviate some of the problems faced and provide resources to the community.

“The podcast will hopefully make people realise that they are not alone and that sharing their worries and concerns will help lift the burden,” he told Farmers Guide. “It will also signpost those who are struggling to where they can get support.

“There is no denying that life is difficult for some farmers at the moment, but we want to provide a reminder that they needn’t suffer in silence.”

A timely discussion

Keeping on Track was produced with the professional input of Team Doctor, specialists in providing health education for patients using films, animations, interactive e-learning courses and podcasts.

Having previously delivered training to the Cotswold Farm Park staff, the team reached out to Adam with the idea of a podcast, involving award-winning presenter Dominic Arkwright and producer Rosie Runciman, which he accepted eagerly.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be involved. It’s a subject matter that’s more vital than ever and very close to my heart,” he said.

The first series of Keeping on Track features 10 twenty-minute episodes, with guests exploring several different themes including: loneliness and isolation, financial worries, sleep and mindfulness.

The series features spokespeople from farming charities such as YANA and RABI, as well as experts in farmer wellbeing and mental health specialists, alongside farming influencers and campaigners such as Ally Hunter Blair and Mike Wilkins.

Among the topics discussed are the warning signs that a farmer is in poor mental health and in need of intervention, which Adam said is not always obvious even when looking at our own wellbeing. Therefore, it’s incredibly important to keep a lookout for farmers in the community and learn to recognise the signs.

“A big thing to look out for is if there is a significant change in behaviour. Maybe your usually bubbly friend has retreated into themselves or is suddenly missing from social events, not replying to messages or phone calls or, when you speak to them, they are talking negatively about the future or their self-worth,” he explained.

“Physical signs can include losing weight, not looking after personal hygiene, smoking more and maybe drinking more. Perhaps you’ve noticed that their home or livestock standards are slipping – this can be another signal. The most important thing is to not judge and be an open ear.

“Don’t forget to keep a check on yourself as well – if you’ve noticed an increase in your level of irritability or overwhelm, or friends are telling you that you don’t seem like yourself, it may be a good idea to speak to someone.”

A variety of resources and ideas of where to turn for help are explored in the podcast series and can also be found at www.teamdoctor.org/charities.

The Keeping on Track podcast can be found on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud. For more information and to watch the trailer, visit https://teamdoctor.org/farmers.

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Under the new strategy, the Duchy will host social events, provide staff and farmer training, and farmers will be able to speak to trained staff via a dedicated wellbeing service.

The Duchy will provide mental health care and support via a “multi-layered approach”, and aims to destigmatise conversations around mental health.

With farmers working in an often lonely profession, and facing the uncertainty of weather and prices, there are multiple pressures that can impact mental wellbeing, and one farmer loses their battle with mental health every week in the UK.

The Duchy said it recognises these individual challenges and wants to make an active difference to the mental health conversation in rural communities.

Matthew Morris, rural director at The Duchy of Cornwall says: “Mental health is an incredibly important conversation to have, especially in the farming community.

“Talking about mental health in rural communities can be difficult and is often stigmatised, so one of things The Duchy want to do with the new Mental Health Strategy is to de-stigmatise the conversation and make it normal to talk about mental health.

“We are really proud to have now launched the strategy, as well as multiple support networks for our tenants where we hope we can make an active difference.”

To launch the strategy, the Duchy has partnered with RABI, the Farming Community Network and We Are Farming Minds, a charity co-founded by Duchy of Cornwall tenants Sam and Emily Stables.

Sam and Emily founded the charity following their own mental health struggles and having seen the stigma around mental health in the industry. The Duchy is partnering with We Are Farming Minds on the strategy for at least three years.

The new Mental Health Strategy is available now to all tenants across the estate.

The post Prince William launches mental health strategy for Duchy’s tenant farmers appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Stock photo for illustration only.

Sights of unharvested crops, flattened fields and emerging disease greeted Lightwave rural and agricultural chaplain Graham Miles on recent visits to Suffolk farms following weeks of unrelenting wet weather.

Seeing first-hand the damage caused to crops by persistent heavy rain, he is worried for the well-being of farmers who have already endured unprecedented challenges over the past year.

“It’s just one thing after another with farming at the moment.

“I’ve been out this morning, going towards Flatford and Dedham, and there’re still acres of standing crops there. A farmer was saying that having to do certain fields when he can and then go back to them, it’s just a total nightmare,” he told Farmers Guide.

“All this causes stress and anxiety, not just for them, but for their families as well, and the farm workers, so it’s a snowball effect.”

Rise in mental health calls

Mr Miles said he’s received an increased number of calls over the last few weeks from farmers in distress, some of whom have reported feelings of depression and even suicidal thoughts.

Although losses have been suffered right across the board, he noted smaller growers are taking the greatest hit as they rely on the harvest coming in to continue farming.

Many also depend on contractors to bring in the grain due to the high cost of machinery. However, if harvest is unable to proceed because of wet weather, it means lengthy delays for famers who have to wait for the next available slot to have the crops brought in.

According to the Met Office, last month has been provisionally the wettest July since 2009, with some parts of the country receiving twice as much rain as the yearly average. This stands in stark contrast to June, which has been the hottest on record in the UK.

For those struggling to cope in the midst of unforgiving weather and economic challenges, the chaplain’s advice is to reach out to charities such as Lightwave, FCN or YANA who are there to help.

“I can’t wave a magic wand, but the Lightwave rural and agricultural chaplaincy team is here for farmers, we can listen to them, they can offload onto us and we understand their problems. That’s what we’re there for, 24/7.”

“We can only control what we can control”

For Bruce Paterson, who runs Worstead Estate, a mixed arable and Wagyu beef farm, with his brothers Gavin and Alex, the conditions have been slightly challenging – but they have a suite of other crops and income besides cereals coming into the business.

They have also diversified out of agriculture too, and are looking to do more in this area to minimise the risks to the business.

While fertiliser prices are not as high as they have been, they are still higher than usual, the grain price is on the floor and rain is affecting the crop, Bruce said. Fortunately, the farm has not had a lot of crops that have lodged, and it’s been a fairly decent combine – but quite a few crops south of Norfolk are lodged, he said.

“We can’t control the weather, we can only control what we can control, and do the best we can. There will be people who will be struggling and hopefully the people who had a good year last year have kept some capital on the side that will help them sit through a tougher year.”

“That feeling that the nation is against you”

Alex Phillimore, head of communications and development at the Farming Community Network (FCN), said one impact of the recent conditions is farmers are having to spend more money to dry out crops – at a time when energy prices remain high.

Farmers have also been working into the early hours of the morning – and in some cases facing abuse from the public for working late. A since-deleted video recently did the rounds on social media, showing a farm worker being verbally abused by a member of the public for combining at midnight.

“I don’t blame the public for not necessarily understanding the ins and outs of farming because they have limited exposure to farming,” Alex said. “[But] you’re trying your best to harvest, ultimately to help feed the nation, and so that feeling that the nation is against you and the job that you’re doing is difficult, it puts a lot of stress on people

“It doesn’t help your mental health at all when you feel like the people you’re trying to help are against you.”

Working such incredibly long hours also creates other stresses, perhaps increasing the likelihood of an accident, being dehydrated and not eating well – all of which will have an impact too, Alex added. Plus profits will be down if the quality of the product is reduced due to high moisture levels.

“It reminds us all of the unpredictability and lack of control in farming, which has mental health implications.”

Climate concerns – a new normal?

As we see climate shifts there is a fear among some that this is the start of what could become the new normal. “We’re dealing with increasingly volatile weather that makes it harder to farm, and that in and of itself creates some anxiety for what’s in store for us. […]”

Alex added: “If we’re having to contend with more droughts, more floods, more of these kinds of extreme weather events, that is going to hit farmers where it hurts. And that impacts food security in the country further than just the farmer; it affects all of us if farmers are struggling to produce.”

The nature of cases presented to FCN’s helpline has become increasingly complex, he noted. “We’re dealing with people who are worried about the future, they’re in financial difficulty or they’ve got issues on the far around succession and the future direction of the farm.”

Top tips for looking after your mental health:

Whilst we can’t “wave a magic wand and solve everyone’s problems” as we’re dealing with factors beyond everyone’s control, Alex offers farmers the following guidance…

1. Focus on the things you can control
   “When we’re dealing with a lot of things that we can’t control, double down on the things that we can control. There are certain things in our lives that we can influence, so it’s about trying to prioritise the things that we can do something about.”

2. Remember you are not alone
   “We are part of a supportive community. Farmers in this country are all dealing with the same issue at the moment, whether it’s the weather in this instance or broader than that; the agricultural transition that we’re going through with the reduction in subsidies and moving over to a new system. As a farmer you are in the same boat as the rest of the farming community, and one thing that can do is actually remind us that we are not alone, even if it can feel like it because we’re working remotely. But actually, as an industry, we are all going through the same thing.” 

3. Stay hydrated
   “It’s an obvious one, but take a lot of water out with you on the farm, because staying hydrated is super important for maintaining our cognitive function. When we’re operating heavy machinery, we can’t afford to make a mistake, it can be dangerous.”

4. Avoid cutting corners
   “You might think that cutting a corner will save you 10-15 seconds, but it’s better to do things right even if it’s a bit of a hassle. You know if you’re doing it right it’s going to be done safely and correctly, so do take that extra time to do things right. Farming is one of the big industries where we can’t be cutting corners because that can have potentially dangerous consequences. Farmers often put their livestock or product before their own wellbeing, so sometimes we do need to put ourselves first – it is the right thing to do, because if we’re always putting ourselves second, that can lead to burnout and other issues.”

5. Ask for help before it is too late
   “When farmers are going to be out on combines and it is tedious and repetitive and long and you might not be chatting with anyone, people can pick up the phone to FCN and talk to us.”We describe our service as a helpline, but we don’t want that to put people off. Through our helpline, you’re going to be talking to someone who is just there sometimes to have a friendly chat with you; they understand farming, they understand its pressures, they are there to talk. So if you just need to talk to someone, do pick up the phone to us, don’t wait until you’re at a point where everything’s gone really badly.”

Chaplain Graham Miles can be contacted any time by phone on 07413 683368 or via email at graham.miles.lightwave@gmail.com.
Contact FCN’s helpline on: 03000 111 999

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Louth Livestock Market raised £3,230 as part of the Len’s Light Tractor Relay, through hosting a charity evening.

Andy and Lynda Eadon, who farm in Napton, Warwickshire, toured 38 livestock markets across England, Scotland and Wales in a donated John Deere tractor last month.

The month-long, nationwide journey aimed to break down stigma around suicide and mental health and encourage people to seek help when they need it.

Andy and Lynda tragically lost their son Len to suicide aged 22. Since his death last year, they have raised over £100,000 for charities in their son’s name and campaigned to raise awareness of mental health issues in rural communities.

Explaining why they chose to focus on livestock markets for the relay, Andy said: “We appreciate the key role they play as rural hubs, often being the only place for some farmers to interact with others during the week.”

Lynda added: “We have really seen communities come out of their shell, and along the way have had some very poignant conversations and heart-felt moments with others who have been affected by mental health or suicide.”

Pictured l-r: Hugh Brown, CEO of Melton Mowbray Market; Lynda and Andy Eadon; and Scott Ruck, auctioneer and head of sales at Melton Mowbray Market.

Livestock markets went “above and beyond”

The couple said they were overwhelmed by the support they received from livestock markets. Markets across the route organised events, charity auctions and activities to not only help raise awareness, but also vital funds.

As well as supporting the three designated registered charities, the Farming Community Network, Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) and Papyrus, many marts also raised funds for local rural support charities.

While donations are still coming in from the activities across the marts, the figure is already well in excess of £30,000, from just 17 markets so far.

Examples of some of the fundraising achieved include:

• £1,295 raised from the sale of a sheep with lamb at foot, along with over £200 in cash donations around the mart at Bentham
• £1,450 from the donation of the proceeds of a Limousin heifer at Frome Livestock Market. This was supplemented with proceeds from a raffle, cake sale and other donations
• £3,230 was raised by Louth Livestock Market who hosted a charity evening, welcoming Lynda and Andy during a non-market day, and also gaining coverage on regional television.
• £4, 804 was raised by Melton Mowbray Market through various activities, including donated lambs auctioned off in the weekly sale
• £8,000 was raised by Leek Auctions Ltd, who sponsored a gathering at Folker Grange Farm, where some 500 people welcomed Lynda and Andy. Activities included the opportunity to throw wet sponges at company directors!

Just the beginning

Chris Dodds, executive secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA) commented: “We wholeheartedly support and applaud the efforts of Lynda and Andy to raise awareness to mental health issues, while they still come to terms with the loss of their son.

“We have always recognised the mart’s crucial role, and responsibility, in providing that support hub and network, creating an environment where the rural community can turn to in times of need.

“The support that our member companies, and indeed their customers, have provided along the Len’s Light Tractor Relay route, really encapsulates that commitment. We wish Lynda and Andy well in their continued efforts, and will continue to support their campaign.”

Reflecting on the relay, Andy concluded: “The role markets have played during the relay, and the events they have put on, really demonstrates the strength of the livestock market industry,” says Andy.

“Not only that, the response we have received, the money raised and more importantly the conversations we have been having, means this is just the start as we continue to campaign to raise more awareness across local rural communities.”

Len’s Light is a tribute and legacy for Len Eadon who, in his short life, touched the hearts of many. You can help to raise awareness and funds through https://leneadon.muchloved.com/

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The new cards, drawn by artists Doodling Lucy and Fudgy Draws, feature vintage 1954 Massey tractors, which were donated by long-term Addington supporter and tractor enthusiast John Selley.

Nicknamed Jack and Jill the tractors were refurbished by John and donated for fundraising tractor runs and agricultural events. They are painted in the charity’s signature orange hue and are often seen at Addington events and agricultural shows.

Lucy Gray, or Doodling Lucy, is passionate about British farming and removing the stigma around mental health.

“Coming home from university I spent two years working in the local pub, speaking to local farmers, game keepers and others in the agricultural/rural sector,” she said. “I realised just how much hard work, time and effort goes into providing the nation with food to put on the table. Something we take for granted Every – Single – Day.

“When building Doodling Lucy and deciding what my core values were, I knew that backing British farming would have to fit in somewhere. Through the use of my illustrations and calligraphy I hope to open conversations surrounding what it is to work in agriculture and the importance of backing British farming and our farmers.”

This year’s Doodling Lucy calendar will also raise funds for the Addington Fund – £1 from each sale will go directly to the charity.

Richard, also known as Fudgy Draws, creates graphic illustrations alongside his homemade fudge business. The Addington Fund met Richard at the Welshpool Illuminated Tractor Run in December 2022 and his catalogue already includes a range of vintage tractor and Land Rover illustrations.

Richard was keen to support Addington Fund’s work and is donating 10% of sales of his Massey tractor prints to the charity.

“When Addington approached me to be involved in a new card design I was delighted to get involved. We visit a lot of agricultural and rural shows and we see how hard the rural community works. It was a pleasure to create the drawing and to help raise money for such a great charity,” he commented.

The cards will be available to buy from the charity’s website and from its stand at summer events: www.addingtonfund.org.uk

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Farming communities in the UK have faced unprecedented challenges over the last few years, largely stemming from uncertainty around Brexit and future policy, the pandemic, market volatility in the wake of the Ukraine war, declining BPS payments and avian flu.

Therefore, it is no surprise that recent surveys are reporting increasingly concerning levels of mental health among those working in the agriculture industry. RABI’s Big Farming Survey conducted in 2021 has revealed that 36% of farmers in the UK are probably or possibly depressed, while 47% are constantly struggling with anxiety.

Moreover, of the 15,000 respondents involved in the survey, only 8% of women and 12% of men reported having good mental well-being.

Having experienced first-hand the demands and stresses of the job through running his own farm, Jeremy Clarkson is trying to raise awareness of poor mental health in the industry and the unacceptable number of rural workers who take their own lives each year.

The former Top Gear presenter was quoted by the Daily Star as saying: ‘How many farmers are literally on their own, absolutely on their own right now, on a tractor, and all they’re thinking is, ‘I’m going to have zero money,’ and they’ve got a family at home.’

‘It’s why the suicide rate on farms is just…’

The mental health crisis in the farming sector is further underlined by the fact that more lives are lost through suicide than as a result of fatal farm accidents each year.

According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 36 suicides recorded in England and Wales among those working in the farming and agricultural industry in 2021. Meanwhile, 22 farm workers lost their lives in fatal accidents in 2021/22.

In addition, of the hundreds of farmers under the age of 40 surveyed by the Farm Safety Foundation early this year, 94% agreed poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing the industry today, highlighting the need for prompt action from the government, organisations and the general public to address the issue.

If you are a farmer struggling to cope or are worried about someone, get in touch with one of the farming charities offering free, confidential support. The RABI helpline 0800 188 4444 is attended 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, while the Farming Community Network (FCN) helpline 03000 111 999 is answered every day of the year from 7am to 11pm.

The post Clarkson speaks out about alarming suicide rates in farming appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Covering 2,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End, the relay was set up to shine a spotlight on how mental health can affect those in rural communities.

It comes as the Farm Safety Foundation’s recent survey of 450 UK farmers under the age of 40 and found that poor mental health is one of the biggest hidden problems facing the industry today, with 94% of respondents agreeing with the statement, up from 84% three years ago.

Len’s Light was launched in June this year by Lynda and Andy Eadon in memory of their son Len Eadon who took his own life in January 2022, and is working with the Farming Community Network, Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) and Papyrus to raise awareness and funds to support farmers’ mental health.

Commenting on the tractor drive, farming minister Mark Spencer said: “It’s hugely important that we raise awareness of the mental health impacts in farming and rural communities and I’d like to pay tribute to all those charities and individuals, including Lynda and Andy, who are working tirelessly to bring this to light.”

He added the government will continue to work with charities such as the Farm Safety Foundation and Yellow Wellies to ensure farmers can access the support they need. Rural mental health and wellbeing are also a top priority in the government’s Future Farming Resilience Fund, which provides free business support to farmers and land managers in England.

Len’s Light founders Andy and Lynda Eadon added: “Len’s Light is a nationwide journey reaching out to everyone in the rural community with the message that no one in the rural community should feel isolated and alone.

“With the help of everyone, we will continue to talk about positive mental health in the rural community which hinges around talking, listening and honesty.”

The Len’s Light Tractor Relay began at John O’Groats on 20th June, featuring a specially designed beacon on the front of the tractor lighting up the route.

The relay has stopped at livestock markets and machinery depots around the UK to spark conversations around mental health with farmers and others living in rural communities, as well as raising awareness at large agricultural events including the Royal Highland Show. The final leg of the relay will take place at Land’s End on 23rd July.

From left to right: Mark Spencer MP, Andy Eadon, Lynda Eadon, NFU President Minette Batters, Sir Jeremy Wright MP. Source: Defra

Praise for Len’s Light Tractor Relay

Several organisations that have worked with Len’s Light to bring the impactful tractor relay to life have praised the work of Andy and Lynda Eadon who have gone through great lengths to help those in need despite having suffered a debilitating tragedy.

NFU president Minette Batters highlighted the need for the farming community to talk openly about mental health and initiate conversations around the topic with neighbours, friends and family.

She said: “I applaud the bravery of Andy and Lynda Eadon who have worked so tirelessly to shine a light on achieving positive mental health in farming and rural communities.

“The Len’s Light tractor relay is an extraordinary and emotional journey by a couple who are determined to make a difference to mental health and wellbeing. On behalf of the NFU we wish them all the very best on their onward journey.”

Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, added: “Initiatives like this by Lynda and Andy – under the most tragic of circumstances – really do make a difference.  We are so grateful to them and admire them for the hard work and pure determination that making this journey through the country will help raise awareness and prevent another farming family going through the worst of tragedies.”

Ged Flynn, chief executive of the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, also extended his thanks to the couple and all those supporting the Len’s Light campaign.

“Their event is raising valuable awareness of suicide prevention which in turn will help us to continue giving hope to young people who are struggling with life.”

Last but not least, Dr Jude McCann, CEO of The Farming Community Network, commented: “Andy and Lynda and the Len’s Light campaign are carrying a vital message of support that is resonating with farmers and people living in rural communities across the UK.

“None of us should feel alone – we are part of a supportive community that is here to listen, support and help.”

She urged farmers who are struggling to reach out to FCN’s confidential helpline that operates every day of the year on 03000 111 999 or help@fcn.org.uk.

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In addition to providing an update on the increasingly proactive approach adopted by the charity in the expansion and delivery of services to farming people, Ms Chivers reiterated the importance of continuing to develop a constructive dialogue between the charity and parliamentarians.

“RABI has a unique and valuable role to play, ensuring that the impacts of future policy decisions on farming people are central in the minds of policymakers over the coming months and years,” she said.

“We are privileged to work with farming communities across England and Wales, and believe that, when coupled with powerful insights gained from our research, such as RABI’s recent Big Farming Survey, we can help politicians and legislators develop policies with a greater awareness of what they will mean for farming people’s lives”, she continued.

The secretary of state also learned about the rapid progression of RABI’s new mental health services, including online and in-person counselling and professional mental health training.

“Whilst our Big Farming Survey found that 36% of the farming community are probably or possibly depressed and 47% are experiencing some form of anxiety, we were still surprised that demand for our in-person counselling grew at over 12 times our forecast last year,” Ms Chivers added.

“Farming people’s wellbeing can often be overlooked, which our experience tells us can lead to a downward spiral for farmers and their families. Collectively, we need to consider what we can all do to better look after our farming communities. Easy access to mental health support is one of our key aspects to begin developing preventative programmes of support”, she concluded.

RABI made the case to the secretary of state to continue dialogue with the charity following the recent EFRA Committee Rural Mental Health Report, which cited RABI’s Big Farming Survey when evidencing the unacceptable levels of poor mental wellbeing of the farming community.

The secretary of state was also introduced to RABI regional support manager Lindsay Derbyshire and heard firsthand how the charity’s work in the Southwest is making tangible differences to the farming community.

The Secretary of State and RABI discuss supporting farming communities.

Praise for the charity’s efforts

Upon learning about the support provided by RABI to farmers and farming families, Dr Thérèse Coffey was impressed by the charity’s work in the space of mental health within the wider agriculture industry.

“I met RABI to hear about the fantastic work they do to provide practical, emotional and financial support to farming communities,” she said.

“As farmers face significant global pressures driven by the illegal war in Ukraine, it is now more important than ever that we recognise the toll these can have on farmers’ mental health and continue to work with organisations such as RABI on government action that will support rural communities to thrive,” Dr Coffey added.

The secretary of state was also introduced to RABI regional support manager Lindsay Derbyshire and heard firsthand how the charity’s work in the Southwest is making tangible differences to the farming community.

The post RABI advocates for farmer mental health in meeting with secretary of state appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The survey aimed to investigate how recent changes to the financial outlook of agriculture as a result of the global turmoil of the past 18 months has impacted the health and safety of the farming population.

Over 68% of respondents admitted to spiralling input costs – especially that of energy, fuel and fertiliser – having a negative impact on their mental health. Moreover, 61% of farmers felt market volatility and unfairness in the supply chain has negatively impacted their mental health and almost 50% said rural crime is affecting their wellbeing.

The latter is evidenced by the rising number of tractor GPS thefts seen in recent weeks, which was the topic of discussion at the first-ever National Rural Crime Unit Conference held at the NFU headquarters this Monday (5^th June).

The release of the survey precedes a parliamentary event set to launch discussions into making the mental health of the nation’s food producers a priority. MPs will have the opportunity to speak to and learn from farming charities and campaigners, helping farmers out in the field day-to-day, and farmers with their own mental health experiences.

NFU vice president David Exwood said the results of the survey are concerning and emphasized the importance of continued government action to improve mental health and wellbeing in farming.

“Working in the farming industry is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. We produce high-quality, climate-friendly food for the nation while shaping some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. But as has been shown by our distressing survey results, the pressures are incredibly challenging too.

“Our survey pinpoints some of the root causes affecting rural mental health – economic and political uncertainty – and we are calling on government to continue taking steps to address these issues to reduce the stress farmers are facing. This is backed up by a recent report from the Efra Select Committee which called for greater joined-up rural mental health planning and action from government, and we agree with these calls.

“While we are starting to see a culture change within our sector, where talking about mental health is becoming more and more accepted, there are still too many farmers and growers simply ignoring the signs and struggling on in silence. I hope today’s event shows there is support out there as we mark the start of an important conversation.”

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