A young farmer with mental health issues took his own life on the same day his dog was put down, an inquest has heard.
Farmer Owen Warren Carlisle, of Newcastle Emlyn, a town straddling the border of the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales, died on June 8 of this year.
The 27-year-old was said to have loved farming before suffering a mental break down in the build up to taking his own life.
According to WalesOnline, coroner’s officer Malcolm Thompson told the inquest on Friday (29 September): “He responded well to treatment and returned to work on the family farm for his father.
“He lived in an annex on the farm and built up a herd of 40 cows which he milked twice every day. Every now and then he would try to manage without his medication but always resorted back to it.”
But Mr Carlisle's dog, whom he was very fond of, developed cancer and subsequently become very unwell.
Mr Thompson continued: “On June 8, the vet was called to put the dog to sleep. He had taken the last of his medicine and was left alone after his father went into Newcastle Emlyn.”
When Mr Carlisle's father returned, he found that Owen had tried to hang himself.
Mr Thompson added: “The emergency services were called and the paramedics were able to find a pulse and took him to hospital but he passed away on the way.”
Care farming
Mental health issues in the countryside and farming industry can often become unnoticed by health professionals.
It is why farming minister George Eustice said care farming can become a key feature of the UK’s care provision and add millions to the rural economy.
240 UK farms are already adding nearly £30m to the rural economy and providing 300,000 health and social care placements every year.
With support and recognition from policy makers, health commissioners and the farming sector, it is estimated that care farming could increase its value to nearly £90m and provide half a million sessions per year in health, social and educational care over the next five years.
According to national charity Care Farming UK, care farms provide placements for a huge range of vulnerable groups including people with mental health problems, adults and children with learning disabilities, people with dementia, children with autism, those with a drug or alcohol addiction history, disaffected young people and military veterans with PTSD.
In fact, a rural company which helps care farms get off the ground and offers therapeutic countryside activities to residents with mental health issues has earlier this year been awarded £286,057 by the Big Lottery Fund.
