Herefordshire farmer 'concerned' about issues impacting mental health in the industry
New research from Farm Safety Foundation shows 9 in 10 agree it is the 'biggest hidden problem' facing the industry today
A farmer from Herefordshire says he's concerned to hear how mental health among farmers is getting worse.
New research from Farm Safety Foundation shows 9 in 10 agree it is the 'biggest hidden problem' facing the industry today.
It comes as the charity is aiming to raise awareness of, and tackle the stigma around poor mental health in the industry as part of their 'Mind Your Head' campaign.
Ben Andrews is a fourth generation farmer near Leominster who's family have been there since the 1930s, he says it's difficult to deal with due to the widespread scale of issues that are affecting farmers.
"I think there's so many factors that are coming from all directions that are really having an impact on the general mood in the farming industry," he said.
"The stats are pretty shocking and when you actually talk to people, you realise that there are a lot more people in the same boat, that you're not on your own.
"When you see everybody coming together to talk about these these issues, everyone feels a little bit more as part of a team rather than an individual which can help."
The charity’s research showed that, on average, farmers also worked longer hours in 2024 than they did in 2023.