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Farmer's Mental Health Crisis: A Call to End Complacency
10 Feb
Summary
- Organic farmer John Ker shares his personal struggle with mental health.
- UK farmers' mental wellbeing is at a four-year low, with rising suicides.
- Charity launches suicide awareness course specifically for farmers.
John Ker, an organic beef farmer from Somerset, revealed that running his business led him to a 'dark place,' emphasizing the need for farmers to address their mental health openly. He shared that external pressures like weather and crop prices contributed to his isolation and struggles.
The mental wellbeing of UK farmers has reached a four-year low, with recent data indicating a rise in suicides. Research shows farmers' mental health lags behind the general population, with the oldest farmers experiencing the sharpest decline in wellbeing.
Ker advocates for farmers to move beyond saying 'I'm fine' and instead seek help. The Farm Safety Foundation's Mind Your Head project is actively working to start life-saving conversations and provide support. As part of this initiative, an online suicide awareness and prevention course has been launched specifically for farmers.
