Conversations about mental illness can be difficult to approach, but charities like the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) can provide a range of support to farming people who take the first step and reach out.
In the latest episode of the Wynnstay Agri-Hub podcast, I was joined by RABI’s chief executive, Alicia Chivers, who shared the importance of normalising conversations about wellbeing amongst rural communities and the agricultural sector to help prevent them from reaching crisis point.
What is mental health?
The perception of mental health issues widely differs from person to person. For Alicia, mental health can be good, bad or indifferent, as it describes someone’s general state of mental wellbeing at any given time. A person’s feelings and poor mental health can alter quickly, as they are affected by circumstances that are often out of their control.
Mental health awareness within the farming community
In January, farming people were asked to complete the Big Farming Survey, about their physical health, mental well-being and business.
The results, analysed from 15,500 responses, uncovered the feelings and the issues most impacting farmers and farming families. More than a third of respondents are probably or possibly depressed and more than half of women in the sector have moderate to severe anxiety. These worrying results show how our industry is constantly challenged by a range of pressures including regulation, compliance and inspection, Covid-19, unpredictable weather, future trade deals and a loss of subsidies.
While much of the survey’s results highlighted the challenges directly from farming voices, it also confirmed the resilience in the agricultural community.
Why is mental health a challenge in the farming community?
Farmers are known for protecting their crops and livestock, yet they can struggle to prioritise their own wellbeing because of the stresses on their business that are often out of their control. In farming, the ongoing nature of the job can mean that there is a sense of relentlessness. The lifestyle is not something a farmer can walk away from, and, with no break, the consistent cycle could potentially increase the negative impact on mental health.
To break down the barriers that have stigmatised mental wellbeing over generations is a sizeable task. Work-life balance doesn’t tend to exist in farming, yet the two are often intertwined, with work having a direct effect on quality of life, and vice-versa. On-farm, most tasks are urgent, and with conflicting pressures of running a profitable business and the impact this can have on a family, these responsibilities can be overwhelming.
The statistics from the research led by RABI reveal drastic changes across the whole of agriculture are needed, but how do farming people actively take this step?
What can farmers do if they have concerns?
Feeling as though you are a part of the conversation surrounding mental health can make you feel more positively about the subject, which ultimately creates change. The challenge is to normalise talking about mental health. Just because we are farming people, does not make us indestructible. RABI hope that in future, those that reach out to them will not be at a crisis point, as suffering in silence is not a resolution.
Over the next few years, farmers will have to adapt to huge transitions in our industry, including climate change, ongoing adjustments to Brexit regulations and the removal of subsidies such as BPS. Although this can be regarded as added pressure, it could also open the industry up to exciting opportunities.
Having the courage, appropriate space and ability to address the hardship is the first step to being able to begin a conversation, whether that be with family or friends, or outside and confidential network like RABI.
If you need support, RABI has a 24-hour helpline on 0800 188 4444 or visit The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) or email help@rabi.org.uk.
Wynnstay staff often have a more personal relationship with farmers, rather than just being a business connection. Supporting the needs of British farmers has always been important to Wynnstay, so choosing RABI as a charity to fundraise for was no question. Through the North to South Challenge, involving 200 Wynnstay employees, £6,099 was raised for RABI by walking, running and cycling a combined total of 29,239 miles.
For more about RABI, their Big Farming Survey and the state of mental health in agriculture, listen to Wynnstays’s Agri-Hub Podcast, season 2 episode 2 where Tony and I were joined by RABI’s Alicia Chivers.
