Working together to support your mental health and safety

Farming is not just a job – it’s a way of life and is often an incredibly rewarding profession, but it can also prove incredibly challenging at times.

Farmers are regularly forced to deal with issues on the farm that are beyond their control, such as animal disease, fluctuating market prices and the weather.

Furthermore, with Britain having left the EU and significant changes in domestic agricultural policy, many farmers are currently facing great uncertainty about the future of their farm business.

According to recent statistics, 95% of farmers aged 40 and under believe that poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem faced by farmers today.

With as many as 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing poor mental health at some stage in their lives, an overwhelming 98% of farmers believe that promoting good mental health is crucial in the battle to keep farmers safe and save lives.

Farming can be a very isolating and lonely occupation, often involving long hours spent out in the field with little or no form of social interaction.

With the overall illness rate for agricultural workers sitting at 46% higher than the industry average, farmers and farming families across the UK are particularly susceptible to poor mental health caused by stress, anxiety and depression.

Why now?

As an industry, we have a collective responsibility to do something about the stigma surrounding poor mental health and every one of us has a role to play in helping to achieve this.

Simply talking about problems is often the first step towards improved mental wellbeing.

Sadly, too often, the stigma around mental health prevents those who need help from seeking it, but there has never been a time when this has been more relevant.

With mental health being something that the next generation consider the ‘biggest hidden problem’ now is the time to start to tackle it.

Mental health issues are a normal part of life, everybody has it and we need to take care of it.

That is why we at KW are focused on helping to build a community of support and resources for those affected.

Remember, you’re not alone

If you, or someone you care about, experiences some of these symptoms, remember you are not alone in feeling this way.

You will be surprised at just how many people recognise these feelings because they too have felt them.

Know the signs

We’ve pulled together some helpful information for those suffering with mental health and things we can all do to support them.

Noticing some of these signs doesn’t mean you should make assumptions; instead, use these as a way of thinking you should check in with your friend or family member and ask how they are and if they need some support.

Some early signs of poor mental health might be

• Feeling overwhelmed by things
• Low mood
• Poor concentration
• Worrying more
• Drinking more
• Irritability and short temper
• Talking less and avoiding social activities
• Difficulty in controlling emotions
• Aggression
• Sleeping more or less
• Tearfulness
• Being easily distracted
• Finding it hard to make decisions
• Tiredness and lack of energy
• Feeling less interested in day-to-day activities
• Talking more or talking very fast, jumping between topics and ideas

© KW/Ab Agri

What to do if you are worried about someone

If someone close to you is showing signs of poor mental health, there are a number of things you can do to help.

Our industry is currently facing uncertain times so when faced with these challenges, it’s reassuring to know that there are a number of resources you can access and charities that you can lean on.

© KW/Ab Agri