Help for farming mental health

by Trudy Herniman

I’m writing this on what seems like the hottest day of the year, and for miles around hay is being made. Unlike my day job when you finish at five, it reminds me that farming is very much a way of life. Something which isn’t understood by everyone, living and working together isn’t something that happens in most instances.

I was invited to Westminster recently to speak to the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs select committee, they commissioned the Big Farm Survey, looking into mental health in agriculture. Dr David Rose mentioned my volunteer work with Farmerados, where we go to markets and agricultural shows and talk to farmers. We generally have tea and cake or I take my puppy, Buck, to get the conversation going with people in the industry. It is also a chance to listen, not to offer advice or fix things, just to be alongside our colleagues in the farming community.

Walking through the great hall in Westminster, I was suddenly struck by the enormity of what I was about to do. World leaders have met here, and here was me in my bright yellow hoodie about to put forth my bit for the industry that I am passionate about.

We told them about the things that are keeping farmers awake at night: crippling input prices, uncertainty, red tape, changing government policy and poor quality, cheap imports just to name a few.

Trudy Herniman at Westminster this summer The EFRA committee listened and made notes, and have already made a follow-up visit to Exmoor. Let’s hope that we have helped make a change for the future.

If you have concerns about mental health in farming, look out for Farmerados pop up events, and check out this online resource: newleaf.uk.com/smewellbeing/resourcesfor-mental-health-in-agriculture/