Farmers say they're in despair as the demand for mental health services increases

Farmers say long hours, lack of respect and uncertainty of the future are some of the things negatively impacting their mental health.

It comes as more information about the proposed inheritance tax approaches in the Government's budget next week.

More details on the tax can be found here and information on the businesses and monetary side of farming can be found here.

All this week, we've been looking into the issues farmers have been facing leading up to the inheritance tax announcement. The full piece can be found here.

"Everybody is on their knees, they're in despair...we're looking into the abyss"

We've been talking to farmers in Suffolk and Cumbria about how they're feeling at the moment, many of them say they've noticed stress levels rise in recent years along with growing concerns over their friends who are dealing with recent policy changes, poor weather and rural isolation may be impacting his and his friend's health.

David Barker is a cereal and arable farmer in Westhorpe:

"My feeling is devastated by the fact that I've spent 55 years working my socks off, most of it seven days a week, we've built up a successful business and now we're looking into the abyss.

"We've taken a complete knock and the whole morale of the industry is rock bottom, everybody is on their knees, they're in despair. Mental health charities have been overwhelmed by farmers worrying about this.

Glenn Buckingham Suffolk Chairman of the NFU:

"You sometimes just can't cope with it all at once.

"It's quite frightening and alarming to think that we are finding the need for these organisations to support us.

"If you went back 20 years, (this was) non-existent, people were happy, so there's something happening with all of these changes that's causing a significant amount of mental health concerns."

Geoffrey Mayhew a mixed arable farmer from Shotley:

"Farming is something you don't switch off at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, you think about it and plan all the time."

David Bird, an arable farmer in Hadleigh:

"It's tough, it's really tough to look around and think, we could be the last generation."

Dent farmer Valerie Gornall:

"I think the pressures of farming especially at the moment are immense, a lot of us live in rural areas so it's not easy to get together with family and friends to talk about it.

"It's just having a huge impact."

Kendal farmer Richard Ladds:

"Farmers as a whole don't talk ever talk about anything, they just sweep it under the carpet and carry on, which is probably the worst thing that could happen."

2021 RABI Big Farming Survey

When looking into this issue further, we found the 2021 RABI Big Farming Survey, which is the largest-ever research project relating to the well-being of farmers.

The survey found:

• Depression - 36% of respondents have mental well-being scores sufficiently low to cause concern.
• Figures peak at the 45-54 age range in both women and men.
• 36% of the farming community is probably or possibly depressed
• Anxiety - 47% experience some form of anxiety, 12% moderate, 6%cent severe.
• One in four farming people occasionally feel lonely, with 14% sometimes and 4% often or always lonely.
• One in ten men and women in the 16-24 age group report feeling lonely often or always.
• 28% perceived succession and retirement as a major concern. Remember this is pre-the inheritance tax announcement.

This shows these issues aren't new, but they could be getting worse. Yellow Wellie's latest figure shows farmers' mental well-being has been on a steady decline since 2021.

Not only this, their research also shows 95% of farmers under 40 believe that mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today.

"It's unlike anything we've ever seen before"

We spoke to Stephanie Berkeley from the Farmers Charity the Farm Safety Foundation/ Yellow Wellies she told us they demand for their services has grown rapidly, and it's a worrying site.

"It's easy to see that many of the proposed changes are increasing levels of uncertainty. They're making farmers of all ages concerned about the uncertain future of the industry...

"The pressures we see on farmers today are unlike anything we've ever seen before.

"That added strain of the rising costs, intense competition, pressure from cheaper imported products, long hours, rural isolation and financial insecurity is putting our farmers at risk physically and mentally.

"They (farmers) don't want to fail where the previous generation has succeeded. So if they do ask for help it can often be very far down the line for them."

She is encouraging anyone to seek help who needs it and not stay quiet.

The Government previously said it's commitment to farmers is steadfast. - and the tax is fair and balanced.

Mental Health resources

RABI:

Email them at help@rabi.org.uk

Call their free 24-hour helpline at 0800 188 4444.

YANA:

Email them at helpline@yanahelp.org

Call them on 0300 323 0400

The DPJ Foundation:

Call them on: 0800 587 4262 or text 07860 048799

The Farming Community Network

Email them help@fcn.org.uk

Call them on 03000 111 999

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