Tractor driven around Parliament to raise awareness of rural mental health
The Farming Minster Mark Spencer has driven a tractor at Parliament Square to raise awareness for mental health in rural communities
A tractor has been driven around Parliament to raise awareness for mental health in the farming and rural communities.
The trip around Westminster was just one leg of the Len's Light Tractor Relay, which is covering over 2,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End. The campaign is aiming to break down stigma surrounding mental health, and shining a spotlight on the effects of mental health in the farming sector.
Len's Light was launched last month by parents Lynda and Andy Eadon. It's in memory of their son Len Eadon from Warwickshire who took his own life in 2022.
The Farm Safety Foundation have found that 94% of UK farmers aged under 40, agree that poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem in the industry.
"“It’s hugely important that we raise awareness of the mental health impacts in farming and rural communities" - Farming Minister, Mark Spencer
Speaking on the campaign, Andy and Lynda Eaton said: “Len’s Light is a nationwide journey reaching out to everyone in the rural community with the message that no one in the rural community should feel isolated and alone."
They continued saying: “With the help of everyone, we will continue to talk about positive mental health in the rural community which hinges around talking, listening and honesty.”
The relay kicked off on June 20th and will conclude at Land's End on 23 July. Along the journey the tractor has stopped many times to speak with the public or at livestock markets and machinery depots.
The Government has pledged to invest at least £2.3 billion of additional funding a year by early 2024, to transform mental health services in England.
Farmers are being prioritised in the Future Farming Resilience Fund which provides free business support to the rural sector.