95% of UK farmers under the age of 40 have cited poor mental health as one of the biggest hidden problems facing farmers today, according to a study by the Farm Safety Foundation.
The rural charity conducted the study on a sample of 450 farmers under 40 and also identified a relationship between average working hours and mental health.
Those with shorter working hours demonstrated higher levels of mental wellbeing. 61% of farmers surveyed work at least a 10-hour day, 15% working a 14 or 15-hour day, with many rarely or never taking a day off.
The Farm Safety Foundation said statistics like these give it and other mental health charities “real cause for concern”.
This week, the charity will be focusing on the issue through its seventh annual ‘Mind Your Head’ campaign.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the various challenges facing the UK’s farming industry, break down the stigma attached to poor mental health in the farming sector and recognise that there are steps being taken to address it.
Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, Stephanie Berkeley, said: “Mind Your Head launched in 2018 when concerns about Brexit, policies, administration and legislation were causing increased anxiety in the industry.
“Fast forward seven years and the campaign has grown and is now recognised by 67% of farmers in the UK.
“Mental health is always a sensitive subject but it’s something that is thankfully growing in importance and profile. The answer to the question “who cares?” is everyone – and everyone should.”
Mental health
The Farm Safety Foundation said the agriculture industry continues to have the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK.
Because of this, the charity said that making sure farmers are prioritising their physical and mental wellbeing has “never been more important”.
The Farm Safety Foundation cited 2021 statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which revealed that 36 suicides registered in England and Wales that year were by those working in the farming and agricultural industry.
This is 15 more people than the number of farm workers who lost their lives in farm accidents in 2022/2023.
“Agriculture is a proud and hardworking industry and vital to the UK economy. Far from being downtrodden, the UK’s farmers are resilient and resourceful and committed to finding ways to tackle any challenge they face,” Berkeley said.
“Over the years we’ve been encouraged by the growing numbers of farm businesses and organisations wanting to learn more about how to help their workers and suppliers as well the incredible individuals taking steps to improve their mental wellbeing and, in this year’s campaign, we will be highlighting them and hopefully inspiring many more to do the same.”
The charity has also been working with film director, Rebecca Rose and Swift Rocket Films to premiere an original independent British short film that explores the aftermath of suicide in a farming family.
‘WAKE’ is a film about how a family comes to terms with loss and how they cope both psychologically and practically.
Suicide awareness
Rose said: “WAKE raises awareness of the under-reported social issue of mental health and suicide in the seemingly idyllic countryside setting and how simple conversations about feelings can start a process to prevent the downward spiral toward the finality of suicide…”
Starring Gavin and Stacey actress Alison Steadman; Poldark’s Mark Frost; Emmerdale’s Louisa Clein; and Stuart Campbell, the film toured international film festivals in 2022/2023.
The charity will be launching it through their social media channels today (Monday, February 12) as part of the Mind Your Head campaign.
Actress Alison Steadman said: “I really wanted to be part of this special project as it aimed to explore the mental health challenges that many farmers are facing but aren’t often talked about.
“It isn’t something that many outside the industry are aware of and many within the industry want to acknowledge.
“I hope this film can encourage more communication within the sector so people don’t have to suffer in silence and can receive support before it’s too late.”
