Farming groups are urging the government to ensure the provision of rural mental health services remain high on the agenda as World Mental Health Day soon commences.
The 2023 campaign, taking place on Tuesday (10 October), is ‘mental health is a universal human right', meaning everybody has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health.
First held in 1992, the World Federation for Mental Health's dedicated day raises awareness of mental health issues, and to fighting the still-associated stigma.
But such issues in the countryside and farming industry can often become unnoticed by health professionals.
The leading cause of death for people aged between 20 and 34 is suicide - and approximately, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), more than one agricultural worker a week in the UK takes their own life.
And this year, farmers and those who work in rural areas may be suffering more than usual due to feelings of isolation, the cost-of-living crisis and an uncertain policy direction.
Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said the charity's research showed that levels of mental health in farming were deteriorating.
She said: "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.
“However, calls to rural support helplines have increased or become more complex over the past three years.
"For example: In Wales, Tir Dewi have noted 5-8 times the volume of calls to their helpline and the DPJ Foundation have made 47% more counselling referrals."
She added: "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."
MPs recently expressed 'deep concern' about how isolation and a lack of digital connectivity have contributed to poor mental health in rural areas, particularly among farmers.
A report by the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee (EFRA), published in May, called for far greater joined-up planning and action from the government to address the issue.
The study said that relative poverty in rural areas could exacerbate poor mental wellbeing, and that rural workers, including farmers, faced "particular stresses".
These included unpredictable weather and animal health crises, as well as uncertain government policies which could affect farmers' incomes as well as their mental health.
Who can provide support?
Organisations that offer help and support for farmers and others in rural areas include numerous charities, such as Farming Community Network, the DPJ Foundation, YANA: You Are Not Alone and Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).
Cheshire
Cheshire Ag Chaplaincy
07967 559 594
talk@agchap.com
Available 24/7
Cornwall
FarmCornwall
01736 367589 or
07775 667825
mail@farmcornwall.co.uk
Farming Health Hub
07568 471064
jon@farminghealth.co.uk
Cumbria
Cumbria Ag Chaplaincy
mcumbriaagchap@outlook.com
Farmer Network
01768 868615
info@thefarmernetwork.co.uk
Derbyshire
Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy/Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD)
07710 088972
chaplaincy@ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk
Farming Life Centre
01692 810903
info@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk
Devon
Dartmoor Hill Farm Project
01822 890913
hfp@dartmoor.gov.uk
Exmoor Hill farming Network
01643 841455
katherine@ehfn.org.uk
Dorset
Sherborne Deanery Rural Chaplaincy
01963 23570
07966 754110
rural.chaplaincy@btinternet.com
Durham
UTASS (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services)
01833 641010
07917 304685
info@utass.org
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire Farming Friends
0845 300 6886
help@gloucestershirefarmingfriends.co.uk
Herefordshire
Herefordshire Rural Hub
01432 268428
hub@herefordshireruralhub.co.uk
We Are farming Minds
07506 567500
wearefarmingminds@gmail.com
Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy
07958 591646
07531 676832
Isle of Wight
Wight Rural Hub
01983 296244
info@wightruralhub.co.uk
Lancashire
Lancashire Field Nurse
07815 099748
info@fieldnurse.org.uk
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN)
0800 138 1710
info@lrsn.co.uk
8am– 8pm 365 days a year
Norfolk
You Are Not Alone (YANA)
0300 323 0400
helpline@yanahelp.org
Shropshire
Shropshire Rural Support
0300 123 2825
ruth@shropshireruralsupport.org.uk
Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy
07958 591646 or 07531 676832
Somerset
Somerset Mental Health in Agriculture (SMHAG)
07590 684888
becky@newleaf.uk.com
Exmoor Hill farming Network
01643 841455
katherine@ehfn.org.uk
Suffolk
Lightwave
07413 683368
graham.miles.lightwave@gmail.com
You Are Not Alone (YANA)
0300 323 0400
helpline@yanahelp.org
Staffordshire
Farming Life Centre
01692 810903
info@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk
Warwickshire
Warwickshire Rural Hub
07780 159291
info@ruralhub.org.uk
Wiltshire
Sherborne Deanery Rural Chaplaincy
01963 23570
07966 754110
rural.chaplaincy@btinternet.com
Yorkshire
Yorkshire Agricultural Society
01423 541000
kated@yas.co.uk
Farmer Network
01768 868615
info@thefarmernetwork.co.uk
Wales
DPJ Foundation
0800 5874 262 (call)
07860048799 (text)
kate@thedpjfoundation.co.uk
Tir Dewi
0800 121 4722
info@tirdewi.co.uk
7am – 10pm 365 days a year
