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I live in North Yorkshire, a county with 85% of its land area designated as rural. With a large proportion of its population living in rural areas, residents of North Yorkshire gain unique opportunities to enjoy nature and its benefits. However, they also face unique challenges, such as isolation or poor access to healthcare services. This can be due to long distance travel along sometimes less than hospitable roads.
One community that experiences these unique challenges are farmers.
A recent Farm Safety Foundation survey of 750 farmers, showed that 91% rank poor mental health as an issue (1). A survey conducted by Healthwatch North Yorkshire found that 42% had experienced stress and anxiety during the past 12 months and 31% had problems with sleep loss (2). Many farmers say they feel a sense of stigma and embarrassment when it comes to sharing such problems, so it's likely that these figures are significantly under-reported.
The farming and agricultural community are also at an elevated risk of suicide. In 2023, the British Association for Counselling and Psychology reported that every week, three people in the UK farming and agricultural industry die by suicide. They also found that male farm workers are three times more likely to die by suicide than the male national average (3). The Office for National Statistics show that suicide deaths among farmers have increased year-on-year between 2021 - 2023.
Farming has always been a relatively tough existence and not for the faint-hearted. So, are we seeing a rise in mental health issues in this particular community?
A study conducted by Cranfield University in 2022 reported an increase in levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts during the COVID19 pandemic. 67% of farmers felt more stressed, 63% more anxious, 38% more depressed, and 12% more suicidal than before the pandemic. (4) More recently, a survey of farmers conducted by the National Farmers Union found that 68% said spiralling input costs hurt their mental health. Alongside this, nearly half said rural crime impacted their wellbeing (5).
Fluctuating external national and international factors such as the cost of living crisis with poor weather conditions decimating harvests, have led to an increase in suicides and poor mental health.
One of the challenges faced when it comes to supporting farmers with their mental health and wellbeing is that they are often reluctant to seek help with these problems. Health and wellbeing issues are often identified much later and sometimes too late for effective help and support to be provided.
It's also important not to assume that farmers will seek out help. Issues such as trust and pride can be barriers to help-seeking behaviour. I’ve heard farmers say they're more comfortable talking about their problems with their vet than with a GP, the perception being that health professionals don't understand the unique circumstances and needs the farming community has.
Other barriers to help seeking behaviour include; a limited understanding by farmers of health issues (symptoms etc), fear and anxiety about using healthcare services, concerns about confidentiality (my business is my business!) and a lack of awareness of available services. These are just a few of the concerns farmers have when it comes to help seeking behaviour.
Another common and important issue for farmers is a fear that if they openly talk to a health professional about their mental health, it may lead to them having their gun license revoked.
Farmers are a proud breed and not wanting to burden others with their problems ranks highly when it comes to talking about mental health or thoughts of suicide.
Suggest to a farmer that they could visit their local Andys Man Club or other well-known mental health support organisations and they'd probably look at you like you'd suggested they visit the planet Mars! If we’re to better support farmers and those living in rural communities, we need to meet them on their turf.
Auction marts, game shoots and other activities where farmers congregate are where support services need to be too. One success story is the Field Nurses, who originally set up in a room at auction marts to provide physical health checks. The nurses found that as they built trust with farmers, they would start to open up and talk about other health issues, including mental health.
Agricultural chaplains have also been another success story, much akin to the Army chaplain. A farmer doesn't have to be religious to find comfort in talking to someone who represents trust and confidentiality. Often these conversations uncover concerns about debt or relationship issues and other problems, all of which can be helped with by signposting to the right support.
In certain communities, cluster groups of farmers provide support to one another. Mobile health units visiting farming communities have also reported success in breaking down barriers to help seeking behaviour.
If those who are looking to support the farming community and their wellbeing are finding it difficult to break down some of these barriers, it's vital that they understand that building trust first should be their number one goal.
We all rely on our farmers for the food we eat and so much more. Let's ensure that we're doing the best we can as a society to support them.
Everyone needs to come together to reduce suicide. Suicide can be prevented through education and intervention. Becoming a trained Mental Health First Aider will give you the confidence to spot signs and ask the question about suicide.
Find out more about out our suicide prevention campaign
Steve Phillip is a former training consultant and business owner, turned suicide prevention advocate, following the death of his son, Jordan, to suicide in December 2019. he founded The Jordan Legacy CIC's in August 2020, whose mission is to be at the forefront of the advancement of mental health and preventing lives being lost to suicide. The Jordan Legacy's mission is to influence a significant reduction in the annual suicide numbers in the UK
As a training organisation, we can’t provide mental health support, but there are lots of people who can. In an emergency, please contact 999 immediately or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E).
If you need medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency:
NHS
You can now contact your local crisis service by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option, which is free to access.
There, you will be connected directly to your local crisis service, where they will provide you with immediate mental health advice and support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Website: nhs.uk
Samaritans
The Samaritans is a free, confidential service providing emotional support 24/7 all year round. You can reach them by calling 116 123 (Free of charge), or visit their website for more information.
SHOUT 85258
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, anonymous text support service. You can text them from wherever you are in the UK. Text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout Volunteer.
Sources
(3) BACP Workplace January 2024, Government’s poor mental health repsonse is a slap in the face to rural workers
(4) Cranfield University 2022, Landscapes of support for farming mental health: Adaptability in the face of crisis
(5) NFU online June 2023, 'No one should feel alone' – NFU shines spotlight on rural mental health