No farmer is an island: supporting the mental health of farm families

This report explores the mental health and wellbeing of farming families from a global perspective. In it, I use my professional and academic knowledge as a rural counsellor and researcher, and my personal experience of farming life to discuss how mental wellbeing in agriculture is not an individual issue but a systemic one.

I visited 10 countries, speaking to researchers at seven universities, representatives from over 35 support organisations, and many farmers, families and employees across a wide range of industry sectors.

The research confirmed that poor mental health in agriculture is a global issue. Farming combines long hours, physical demands, and isolation with high levels of responsibility: not only for business, animals and household, but also for family, community, environment, and future generations. This is combined with many significant external stressors which are largely outside of the farmers’ control, and which generally fall into the broad categories of climate, finance and government policy. Women face additional pressures through overlapping on-farm roles, off-farm employment, and caring and emotional responsibilities in addition to workplace or systemic misogyny.

These pressures are compounded by cultural identity. Values such as independence, strength and self-reliance - or often for farm women being the person who supports everyone else - are sources of justifiable pride and can be very useful. However, they can also be a significant barrier in accessing support, and the accepted norms around meeting other’s needs first or working harder, pushing through, and being stubbornly independent perpetuates the challenge. True resilience isn’t about losing those values, but involves flexibility, adaptability, evolution, connection, and challenging unsupportive systems so that those values can remain beneficial rather than detrimental. 

Effective wellbeing support combines trust, cultural understanding and appropriate knowledge. Change is more likely when others see it modelled successfully and storytelling is a powerful tool in reducing stigma and encouraging conversations. However it is important that mental health messages are well-informed and responsible in their use of language. The strongest approaches combine trusted individuals with professional expertise, clear referral pathways and support for those delivering that support. Practical, preventative and ‘health by stealth’ approaches can also reach people who might otherwise avoid formal mental health services. 

Driven by a desire to move away from the narrative that ‘farmers need to be more resilient’, the recommendations of this report extend beyond individuals to communities, those working in professions allied to agriculture, support providers, medical professionals, researchers, and those further up the supply chain and government. They include ensuring that those supporting farmers are effectively supported themselves, that support interventions are rooted in professional knowledge, and that research, policy and change involves farmer input. Key to this is the ability to invest and nurture relationships. 

The wellbeing of those in farming should not be a side issue, but should underpin every conversation and decision. If we do not look after the people in our industry, not only will businesses fail to thrive, but there will be no incentive for future generations to work in agriculture. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that farming is a safe and supportive industry for all who live and work in it.