Whilst poor mental health is becoming a feature of the modern workplace, some industries are particularly at risk and one of the most vulnerable is farming.
In 2021 there were 22 fatalities resulting from accidents in the UK farming and agricultural industry but over the same period, 36 suicides were recorded.
The dry weather this year has placed yet another burden on farmers; yields are down and so the cost of winter feed is bound to go up. There’s also the looming threat of the inheritance tax which will adversely affect may farming families. A farm isn’t a simple business asset that can be sold off when the going gets tough. It’s an integral part of the farmers life, the family home and livelihood, often held in trust for the next generation. There’s huge pressure on the farmer to act as custodian, to keep the farm going and pass it on.
The pressures and problems don’t stop there often with the isolation and loneliness of farming, financial worries, the constant threat of disease in livestock and over-regulation – it’s not surprising that these stresses all take their toll on mental health.
There are a number of fantastic farming charities already helping farmers with peer support groups and dedicated training including RABI, Yellow Wellies, The Farming Community Network, We Are Farming Minds. These work well for the many farmers who are willing tap into the support on offer. But what about those farmers who don’t come forward and aren’t talking about their problems – either because they are reluctant to, or because they are isolated and don’t have anyone to talk to? Not everyone finds it easy to rationalise or admit to stress and open up.
At County Insurance Services Limited, we have sponsored a year-long campaign to reach those in the farming community who aren’t getting the help they need. This will result in a 9-part series of videos that will go beyond raising awareness of the problem to provide actionable solutions and coping mechanisms that could help alleviate the worst symptoms. Crucially, farmers will be able to access the videos anonymously, in their own space and at a time that suits them.
Our videos will feature people that farmers will most relate to – other farmers. That means filming case studies with farmers who have adapted their work / life patterns and learnt to cope with mental health problems. Our project will be filming on farms throughout the calendar year and through the changing seasons.
It’s most important to encourage unrestricted access and so the series will be free for anyone to watch. We will be sharing the Mental Health Support for Farmers videos with the farming community as soon as each one becomes available.
County Insurance is proud to get behind this important initiative – our farmers deserve all the support they can get.