Herefordshire farming mental health charity has seen 'unprecedented' number of calls, says co-founder
Sam Stables, who set-up We Are Farming Minds with his wife, has said they're continuing to hear from farmers who are struggling
A Herefordshire mental health charity supporting farmers has said it has seen a real rise in the number of those reaching out to them in recent times.
We Are Farming Minds met with the Prince of Wales at a farm in the county yesterday (15 January) to discuss the importance of supporting farmers with their mental health.
Prince William, who has been patron of the charity since March last year, also spoke to, and was shown around, by the married couple running the farm in John and Laura Bowler.
Mr and Mrs Bowler got the prince involved with pruning some apple trees and feeding sheep while also sitting down to talk to him, alongside We Are Farming Minds, about the challenges they've faced in the industry.
Co-founder of We Are Farming Minds Sam Stables, who set it up with his wife Emily, said it was an honour to speak to His Royal Highness and to highlight the importance of having support for mental health in place.
"Mental health is a massive passion of the prince’s and to have him as patron, overall for our farming families, we couldn't want for any anymore to have that person supporting at the minute what farming families are going through," he said.
"We’re seeing as a charity unprecedented calls to our support line from farmers who are struggling beyond, our counselling referrals and everything has gone to another level.
"We talk about resilience in farming and we talk about farmers resilience but they're at breaking point."
On the rest of the visit, the prince took a walk through a field where Christmas trees were growing and on his departure met Mr Bowler’s grandmother Betty and wished her a happy birthday ahead of her upcoming 92nd one.