UEA academic shining light on farmers mental health in Parliament
This meeting in the House of Lords follows a virtual reality project being launched which aims to show the lived experiences of rural workers
A local academic is raising awareness about mental health issues facing farmers in the House of Lords, tomorrow
It follows the Rural Minds project being launched, which uses virtual reality to help bring these worries to life for others
The event aims to bring policymakers, health and agricultural leaders face-to-face with the realities of what's being called 'the mental health crisis in UK agriculture'.
It will run from 10am to noon, with a range of politicians, agricultural and healthcare leaders invited along.
This all aims to shine a light on the project and encourage relevant policy change to support agricultural mental health. There will also be VR headsets available for those attending to try.
"We hope this event at the House of Lords will act as a springboard for national discussion"
Dr Jordan Tsigarides is from Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia:
"By sharing lived experiences through Virtual Reality, we aim to highlight how isolation, financial strain, generational pressures and stigma continue to impact the wellbeing of farmers.
“We hope this event at the House of Lords will act as a springboard for national discussion on how agricultural and rural mental health can be better supported through coordinated policy, including the Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2023–2028), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) Future Farming Resilience Programme, and initiatives within the UK Food Strategy and NHS Long Term Plan that touch on rural health inequalities.
“Our goal is to ensure that the unique needs of farming and rural communities are fully recognised within these frameworks, particularly around early intervention, access to mental health support, and education for healthcare professionals working with agricultural populations.”
“In the longer term, we hope Rural Minds will inform cross-departmental thinking between DEFRA, DHSC, and NHS England to help reduce suicide risk and improve mental wellbeing in rural areas."
What is the 'Rural Minds Project' and how does it all work?
The technology directly allows people to explore issues like financial strains, rural isolation and volatile weather patterns.
'The Rural Minds Project' has been created by Dr Jordan Tsigarides from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and GPs Dr Daniel James and Dr Richard West, in collaboration with Cambridge-based creative technology company Revolve Labs.
It's being showcased at the House of Lords next month. It is thought to be the first of its kind focussed on mental health in agriculture.
It will use 360° filming and interactive VR experiences to place users directly into the everyday realities of farming life; exploring the challenges of financial strain, weather dependency, isolation, and generational pressure.
The project aims to build understanding and empathy among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and rural organisations, while encouraging open dialogue about mental wellbeing with farmers themselves.
"This project hopes to change that by raising awareness"
Dr Jordan Tsigarides said: “The Rural Minds VR experience allows you to step into the boots of a farmer struggling with his mental health and truly shines a light on this difficult topic.
“As doctors, our training doesn’t emphasise the unique challenges that the agricultural community face, leaving us ill-prepared to identify and support those in need.
"This project hopes to change that by raising awareness, improving understanding, and ultimately saving lives through connection and support.”
The main worries facing local farmers, today:
Poor mental health remains one of the most pressing issues in UK agriculture.
The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution’s (RABI) Big Farming Survey (2021) found that 36% of farmers are “probably or possibly” depressed, 47% report constant anxiety, and only 8% of women and 12% of men describe their mental wellbeing as good.
The Farm Safety Foundation also reports that 95% of young farmers believe mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing agriculture today.
What are the next steps from here?
The project team is working with organisations such as the Royal College of General Practitioners to disseminate it as a training tool, while the farmer facing version will be shared through organisations like rural mental health support charity You Are Not Alone.
The resource will be free to access and for those with headsets, such local Integrated Care Boards, the content can be loaded onto them for use with GPs.
There is also an online version that can be used on a browser for those without headsets.
Outreach with VR headsets will also be done at events and through partner organisations.