Protecting the mental health of our farmers

Two years ago, I moved from an office based role at NFU HQ to the East Midlands region.

This has allowed me to reconnect with our members and get a truer sense of what really matters. I still find myself talking about rural crime, rural connectivity and of course the dreaded ‘B word’. But more and more I’m talking about mental health and wellbeing and the very real (and often negative) impact this has on our community.

The nature of farming means that people are often affected by isolation on some level. Daily life and the pressures of running your own business can also lead to stress, something which can have a significant impact on your wellbeing. This previously stigmatised issue seems to flow through everything we do now, whether we want to admit it or not. I believe it is one of the biggest issues facing our industry and is something we can only beat if we work together.

There are a number of charity and support networks out there who do an amazing job. If you’re ever in need of support, whether you’re a member or not, please do feel free to contact me directly to talk things through. I’m no expert, but in Lincolnshire, we’re extremely lucky to have a long list of organisations who are dedicated to supporting people when they need it the most. Here are a few that stand out…

Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN) - 0800 138 1710 - www.lrsn.co.uk

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) - 0808 281 9490 - www.rabi.org.uk

Farming Community Network (FCN) - 03000 111 999 - www.fcn.org.uk