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Campaign to raise awareness as poor mental health impacts lives of farmers

While almost every other profession has changed to some degree as a result of the pandemic, farmers have ploughed on as normal in the past two years.

Their work has kept food on our plates - but at what cost does the non-stop way of life have on farmers' mental health?

KMTV reports on the new campaign

Forty-four farmers took their lives in 2020, while 92% of those under the age of 40 believe poor mental health is the biggest hidden problem in the profession.

The pandemic, extreme weather conditions, poor harvests and supply chain shortages have all made the past two years incredibly challenging for those in the industry.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics also show that during 2020/21, a total of 34 farm workers were killed in fatal accidents at their places of work.

Therefore, in an industry that continues to have the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK, there are now calls to put greater impetus on farmers' mental health struggles.

Trevor Jones, a farmer from Meopham, says life in the profession is tough.

Statistics show farming is the most dangerous profession in the UK
Statistics show farming is the most dangerous profession in the UK
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"It can be a very lonely job, and even when you've got a lot of people around you it's a lonely place," he said.

"A lot of people don't understand what we do, and I can see how it can be very easy to go down the slope of being depressed.

"I know farmers who are finding it really hard.

"I'm very lucky as I have a good home life and nice farm, but it's not easy."

Another industry survey shows how 36% of farmers in the UK admit to being “possibly” or “probably” depressed.

Trevor Jones
Trevor Jones

The Farm Safety Foundation has launched its annual Mind Your Head campaign this week to highlight what needs to be done to break down mental health barriers in farming.

Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the foundation, said: “As an industry, I think it is time we deal with the issue of poor mental health head on.

"We need to talk about our feelings and let everyone living and working in farming know that it’s completely OK to have feelings, good and bad, but it's also important to let them out.

"Life isn’t always as it seems, we don’t post on social media about the days that we wished we didn’t get out of bed or the days we didn’t feel like it. Most people feel the pressure to keep up with everyone’s ‘perfect’ life."

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