• FEB / MAR 2022
FARM NEWS 13
Farm Safety Foundation ( also known as Yellow Wellies ) launch 5th annual Mind Your Head campaign
• 92 % of UK farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today , a recent study by the Farm Safety Foundation reveals .
• Mental wellbeing levels in the next generation of farmers have fallen over the past year , the study also finds .
• 36 % of farmers in the UK admit to being “ possibly ” or “ probably ” depressed according to another industry survey .
• 44 suicides were registered in England and Wales in 2020 for those working in farming according to the Office of National Statistics .
• This week ’ s campaign from the Farm Safety Foundation will remind those living and working in the industry to Mind Your Head .
2020 and 2021 proved incredibly challenging for the UK ’ s farming industry . There were extreme weather conditions , poor harvests , supply chain shortages and a global pandemic to contend with but , through it all , farming endured as it always does . Over the past two years , the UK ’ s farmers have been recognised as key workers . Their hard work puts food on our plates , produced to some of the highest standards in the world , and their careful stewardship knits together the environmental and social fabric of our iconic landscape . The UK ’ s farmers are a remarkable breed ; adaptable , resilient and incredibly hardworking but , the commitment of our farmers comes at a price .
In an industry that continues to have the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK , making sure we are all looking after our physical and mental wellbeing has never been more relevant . So , from 14th – 18th February 2022 , leading farm safety charity , the Farm Safety Foundation ( also known as Yellow Wellies ) launched their fifth annual Mind Your Head campaign to illustrate actions being taken to break down mental health barriers in farming .
Stephanie Berkeley , Manager of the Farm Safety 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 . My father always advised me to never judge anyone unless you walked in their shoes , these are words that I live by , as it is important to know what is really going on behind the smile , or even their grumpy demeanour . Many living and working in rural communities are suffering
and doing so in silence . As an industry , it ’ s time to ease the pressure , stop expecting people to be perfect and start talking openly about feelings with people you trust .”
Launching on Valentine ’ s Day , the Farm Safety Foundation is reminding farmers that self-love is important too .
Stephanie added : “ A day like Valentine ’ s Day which celebrates love and togetherness can often highlight how different , alone or low we feel so it is important to check in with yourself and others and reach out to those who may be feeling down , lonely or struggling . Whatever it is that you choose to do , just know that your mental health should never be ignored , and you are not alone .”
The recent R . A . B . I Big Farming Survey revealed that 36 % of the farming community in the UK are ‘ probably ’ or ‘ possibly ’ depressed and sadly , the stigma around mental health often prevents those who need help from seeking it . So , for the next five days , key farming organisations from five countries will join forces to support the Foundation ’ s Mind Your Head campaign and try to dispel the myths and tackle the stigma around poor mental health in the industry and highlight the wealth of support available to those living and working in farming .
BBC ’ s Strictly winner , actor Kelvin Fletcher , who last year bought a 120-acre farm in the Peak District is supporting the 2022 Mind Your Head campaign . As a new entrant to the industry , Kelvin appreciates the many challenges facing farmers at present and the importance of looking after your mental wellbeing at work .
He says : “ I feel really privileged to have been welcomed so warmly by the farming community , who have supported me so much since I started my farm last year .
For more information on the Mind Your Head campaign or to learn more about how the Farm Safety Foundation is tackling the issue of poor mental health in the agricultural industry please visit www . yellowwellies . org or follow them on social media - @ yellowwelliesUK on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube using the hashtag # MindYourHead