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Ag Mental Health Week sparks global wellbeing conversation

Ed Henderson 11 October 2021
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© Monty Rukasen Cultura/Science Photo Library© Monty Rukasen Cultura/Science Photo Library

A social media campaign is reminding farmers about the importance of mental health awareness in agriculture.

Ag Mental Health Week runs from 10-16 October and farmers are being encouraged to join the global conversation about their mental health, why it should be a priority and how people living and working in rural communities can improve their wellbeing.

See also: Where farmers in need can find charity help

The week will feature live panel discussions on Facebook each night at 7pm about mental health and wellbeing – featuring farmers, vets, politicians, charities and industry groups from the UK and across the world.

Young farmers from Australia and Canada are among those from further afield who have already shared their experiences, and other speakers will appear from New Zealand, the US, South America and Asia.

Campaign background

The global movement was founded in 2020 by dairy farmers Peter and Paula Hynes, from Cork, Ireland. They wanted to help people in rural communities talk openly about mental health and bring awareness to the support that is available.

“We had a conversation during Farm Safety Week and were looking at the reality – Ireland loses more farmers to suicide than farm accidents,” Peter told Farmers Weekly.

“We need to stand together as a whole industry on this. The strongest voice you can have is a united voice, so that is why we started this awareness week.”

Mr Hynes said the week is for everyone who works in agriculture and that is reflected in the variety of the speakers at the panel discussions on Facebook.

Politicians (Monday 11 October), doctors (Tuesday 12 October), vets (Wednesday 13 October), agri-industry (Thursday 14 October), support services (Friday 15 October) and farming family members (Saturday 16 October) will all join the conversation.

Mr Hynes is also encouraging people to walk a mile for mental wellbeing on Wednesday 13 October and share a picture on social media.

“Improving your wellbeing can help you deal with challenges. If we got together as an industry and ran or walked a mile, it might send a message that we need to be proactive about how we look after our mental health.

“Whether it is farmers, vets or other workers, we are all working in the same environment with the same challenges – and if this week can save one person’s life, it makes it worth it,” he said.

To get involved, visit @AgMentalHealthWeek on Twitter and Facebook.

Vale of Glamorgan dairy farmer Abi Reader is a supporter of the campaign. “This gives such an important message to an industry that can, at times, be incredibly tough and lonely to work in,” she said.

Encourage conversation

England and Wales charity the Farming Community Network (FCN) praised the campaign for showing the importance of mental health awareness and talking.

Alex Phillimore, from FCN, said: “We’re delighted to see that Ag Mental Health Week has taken off in a big way across agriculture, with lots of farmers getting behind it.

“It is initiatives like this, led by farmers and promoted across our industry, that help to reduce the stigma around mental health and encourage people to talk about any issues or worries they may have.”

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