Farm Safety Foundation warns of Covid-19's impact on farmer wellbeing  

Depression

Levels of depression are still thought to be increasing, stress-related calls to farming charity helplines had been increasing and, in 2018, 83 suicides were registered among people working in agricultural and related trades in England and Wales.

It is of little surprise therefore, that these farming charities and rural support groups are gearing up for an upsurge in calls to helplines and are adapting their services to support the industry over the coming months.

Alicia Chivers, chief executive of R.A.B.I said: “Lives have been turned upside-down and we know that the disruption caused by Covid-19 will continue to impact on the farming community for a significant time to come.

“Farming life already carries many inherent uncertainties and, as we head into the autumn, R.A.B.I is expecting an increase in the level of support needed, largely resulting from the effects of the very wet autumn and subsequent dry spring period.”

Online

This autumn R.A.B.I will be launching an online counselling service for the farming community, free at point of use and available 365 days of the year.

It is hoped that this will provide a valuable new complementary way for people to gain advice and support during the challenging times ahead.

Commenting on how the Farming Community Network (FCN) are dealing with the situation, Jude McCann, chief executive officer of FCN, said: “While cases of Covid-19 are currently declining across the UK, farmers will be remaining vigilant at a critical time for the industry and FCN stands ready to provide support to those who need it.

“We are reminding the farming community of the need to plan ahead, maintain a Covid-19 safe workplace and consider contingencies in case any members of the farm team are affected directly or required to self-isolate.”

But what does this have to do with Farm Safety Week?

Farm Safety Week

An interesting result of our most recent annual tracker survey revealed 85 per cent of young farmers agree there is a definite link between mental health and farm safety, so it seems only right that this is something that we are highlighting this Farm Safety Week.

We need to build a culture within agriculture that explicitly recognises how the job can impact on the wellbeing of farmers and their families and conversely how poor mental health can have a direct and deadly impact on the job.

There are many wonderful initiatives out there helping to tackle this issue.

Young Farmers

Young Farmers clubs like Killraughts YFC, Kilrea YFC and Annaclone & Magherally YFC in Northern Ireland have done some fun challenges throughout the lockdown.

National Federation of Young Farmers Club has held their isolation challenge and Scottish Association of Young Farmers Club has introduced Are Ewe Aware, a new resource hub to support their members.

Even celebrity influencers like Gareth Wyn Jones have taken on the 25 press up challenge during the past few months to keep people talking about the issue.

This is not even touching on the amazing work by Farming Help and the 26 plus rural support groups through the country.

There are so many passionate partners helping us to give farm safety and mental health equal airtime. So why wouldn’t we?

Where would our agricultural industry be without the hard-working and dedicated people that live and work in it?

I may have said it before but this is not someone else responsibility, this is our watch and, in these challenging times, it’s down to each and every one of us to look out for our friends, colleagues, neighbours and ourselves.

For more information on Farm Safety Week visit www.yellowwellies.org or follow @yellowwelliesUK on Twitter/Facebook using the hashtag #FarmSafetyWeek