The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) organises the Mind Your Head campaign each year. The awareness week aims ‘to raise awareness of mental health in the farming industry and to reduce the stigma around poor mental health’. This year, the Mind Your Head campaign is running from Monday 10 to Friday 14 February, and we are encouraging our Supporters and everyone working in farming and agriculture to start the conversation in order to improve mental health and save lives.

This is something we are passionate about at Mates in Mind. We advocate for positive mental health in and through work. We work with organisations to build cultures of prevention and a supportive working environment so that every worker has the skills, knowledge and confidence to spot the signs of mental ill-health, to start conversations, signpost support and help to address the stigma that surrounds mental health.

Our research found that some health conditions (e.g., headaches or migraines, arthritis or joint pain, eye strain etc.) can contribute to an elevated risk of workplace accidents if they affect mood, concentration, coordination or vigilance. Therefore, in order to improve safety, both physical and mental health need to be considered and addressed if required. However, in agriculture, as with many of the sectors in which we work, there is often a perceived need to work through health conditions, e.g., because livestock need to be cared for; crops planted, harvested etc. This is why we have joined charities and organisations already working in farming and agriculture to provide effective interventions and resources that can help to ensure all farmers, farm workers, employees and contractors are supported with their mental health in and through work.

Why is strengthening resilience in farming and agriculture important?

• The Farm Safety Foundation found that 95% of UK farmers under the age of 40, rank poor mental health as one of the biggest hidden problems facing the industry today [1].
• A 2018 survey with more than 700 farmers found that the average working week was 65 hours compared to a national average of 37.5 hours. 68% felt they did not get enough sleep and 40% wanted help balancing work and time off [2].
• According to the HSE, in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2022/23 [3]:
  
  • There were 21 fatal injuries to workers.
  • The fatal injuries rate is 8.6 per 100,000 workers. This is about 21 times the all industry rate.
  • Around 3.7% of workers in the sector sustained a workplace non-fatal injury. This rate is statistically significantly higher than that for workers across all industries (1.5%).

Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees, including mental health/stress. Mental wellbeing also benefits the business, for example, increased productivity, a reduction in sickness and staff turnover, and it demonstrates that the organisation is a good, safe, and supportive place to work. Research has found that, on average, businesses achieve a £5 return for every £1 spent on wellbeing support [4].

Mental wellbeing in the workplace is also good for the employee, for example, improving confidence, purpose, achievement, positive relationships, and inclusion.

Resources

We have created a suite of resources to support the farming and agriculture sector. To access our free Strengthening Resilience in Farming and Agriculture signposting infographics and toolbox talk, please complete the short form below. Please scroll down beyond the form to download additional free resources including a poster.

Please also visit our Resources page where you can download additional free resources including a Spotting the Signs Infographic and a Stress Awareness Factsheet.

Visit our Resources

Please sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to be informed of when we publish new resources, blogs, events and so on. In the meantime, the first blog in our ‘How to optimise your mental wellbeing’ series, can be found:

How to optimise your mental wellbeing

Mates in Mind Supporters

We have additional materials available for our Supporters in the portal, please log in below to access them:

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If you are not a Supporter but would like to find out more about our Programme please read on.

How we can support you

Mates in Mind can support your organisation to build a mental health plan and to create a culture of prevention.

Our dedicated team of Support Managers work with organisations of any size to develop a tailored action plan, evaluating your organisation's priorities and gaps, and providing the tools and support you need.

This plan includes ongoing support with communication and delivery of your plan, as well as training opportunities, promotional materials, and a suite of tools (including awareness day packs) to enable you to drive long-lasting and meaningful change.

Find out more about how we can help your organisation build a culture of prevention when you become a Supporter by:

• Visiting our Become a Supporter page.
• Calling: 020 3510 5018.
• Using this contact form.

If you would like to know when we publish new resources, please complete the newsletter sign up at the bottom of this page.

References:

1] Virtually all young UK farmers worried about poor mental health (personneltoday.com)

[2] Fit2Farm: Hard work and long hours take toll on farmers - Farmers Weekly

[3] Agriculture, forestry and fishing statistics in Great Britain, 2023 (hse.gov.uk)

[4] Mental health and employers: the case for investment - pandemic and beyond | Deloitte UK