Stamford & Rutland farmers could be facing poor mental health, research shows

Poor mental health is the biggest problem facing young farmers across the UK, according to new research from one rural charity.

From The Farm Safety Foundation's survey of 450 farmers below the age of 40, nearly all of respondents (94%) said poor mental health ranked as the number one problem.

The charity revealed that mental wellbeing in young farmers has been deteriorating for the past three years, which is having a direct impact on farm safety.

This week its campaign 'Mind Your Head' is bringing together 300 farming organisations and charities across the UK.

The campaign aims to break down the stigma around mental health in the farming sector, recognise the pressure some rural workers are under and how it affects their mental health, as well as their ability to farm safely.

"Who wants to be a farmer?"

Julie Ball from Rutland Farm Park says the pressures facing farmers can't be underestimated:

'Really, who'd want to be a farmer? It's not something you choose I don't think. It's a job you inherit from your family.'

'Every disease or outbreak, it destroys the hard work that farmers have put into raising herds, flocks; you lose your whole stock. All that breeding you've done over the years. Sadly it does lead to farmers taking their own life.'

'We're also seen as the baddies - we make noise, and smells. We work long lonely hours.'

'We, like everybody else have to make a living. It's hard, it's stressful and it is lonely. Support your local farmers and give them a smile when you pass them, don't have parties in corners of their fields and leave your bottles behind - we wouldn't do that in your garden.'

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