Unseen Struggles: Addressing Mental Health in Agriculture

Working in agriculture brings immense rewards, but it also presents many unique pressures. While many picture farming as a peaceful life, few realise the psychological toll that the long hours, isolation, financial stress and increasing unpredictability of weather take on an individual. In the UK, the mental health crisis among farmers has become a significant concern, as it affects both men and women across the industry. 

 Farming is a lifestyle as much as it is a job; its full of early mornings, unpredictable hours and is always a constant battle against the weather. During busy seasons I can often find myself spending hours on my own in the fields, sometimes feeling a bit cut off from the world. My friends outside of agriculture sometimes don’t understand why I can’t come and see them during busy times on the farm. They don’t and many members of the public don’t understand the level of uncertainty we have to deal with, thus we have to work long hours when the weather permits to get things done. The average farmer works 65 hours a week—compared to the national average of 37, however this number increases significantly during busy seasons. The weather, for example, impacts when our barley can be sown or when potatoes can be planted, and vice versa for harvesting and lifting time. I feel this pressure not entirely on myself, but for my dad and uncle, whose livelihoods depend on weather conditions that nobody can control. Watching them shoulder that stress is difficult, and I often feel anxious on their behalf, knowing that the entire family business could be impacted. 

 

This kind of stress and isolation is in fact common across the farming industry. A recent report found that more than nine in ten British farmers under the age of 40 said that poor mental health was one of the sectors biggest problems and a large proportion of farmers believe that mental health issues are not discussed within their communities. Suicide rates are high in the UK farming industry, with male farm workers being three times more likely to die by suicide than the male national average. For men, the stigma around mental health can make it particularly difficult seek help. Traditionally, farming is seen as a ‘tough’ profession, which may discourage men from openly asking for mental health. 

My dad and uncle working into the night to get a field done.

 

Thankfully, change is on the horizon. Organizations like the Farming Community Network (FCN) and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) offer helplines and counselling services for farmers, working to break down barriers around mental health support. Social media influencers in agriculture, like Olly Harrison of "Olly Blogs," are also helping to change the culture by speaking openly about mental health. Olly uses his platform to share the struggles he faces in everyday farm life and raises awareness through creative initiatives, like his charity drive from John o’ Groats to Land’s End. Along the journey, he encouraged farmers cheering him on to “answer as a percent” how they were feeling that day, bringing attention to the importance of checking in on mental health in a simple, relatable way.

The mental health crisis in farming may not be visible to most people, but it’s one that affects farms across the country. By talking about it more openly and offering more support, we’re taking steps toward a future where farmers can feel comfortable asking for help—without fear, without stigma, and without shame.