There are a number of mental health risk factors associated with agriculture. Farmers work long hours, often in isolation. They can be under significant financial pressure, often required to take on significant debt to purchase the land and equipment required to operate. And in most cases, a farmer’s place of business is also his or her home, meaning there is no easy way to get away from the workload.
In addition, farmers are constantly vulnerable to unusual events and circumstances that can impact their bottom line — from weather and natural disasters to international trade disputes.
NFU Mutual research revealed that four out of five young farmers (under 40) believe that mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today. In 2018 NFU Mutual launched a new campaign – Mind Your Head – to raise awareness of this growing issue in the industry.
NFU Mutual have now also launched a Little Book of Minding Your Head, which is a pocket guide to understanding mental health and stress management in agriculture.