RESEARCH
Keele researchers are working with farmers and healthcare professionals to improve mental health and resilience in farming communities – a sector facing one of its biggest crises.
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RESEARCH
Researchers working with farming community to improve farmers’ mental health
Keele researchers are working with farmers and healthcare professionals to improve mental health and resilience in farming communities – a sector facing one of its biggest crises.
Long hours, isolation, and financial pressures have contributed to rising stress, anxiety, and depression, with suicide rates alarmingly high.
A new study led by Professor Carolyn Chew- Graham and Dr Tamsin Fisher aims to identify existing support, barriers to help-seeking, and ways to make mental health care more accessible. The team is engaging farmers and rural healthcare workers to understand what help looks like for these communities and how to encourage appropriate support.
“ Almost everyone we’ ve spoken to knows someone affected by mental health conditions or suicide,” says Dr Fisher.“ We want to find practical solutions that work for farmers.”
Read more: keele. ac. uk / research / researchnews / 2025 / october / farming-community / mental-health-research. php