We need to normalise mental health conversations in farming, RABI says

RABI is calling on the farming sector to play a part in normalising mental health conversations in the industry, ahead of Oxford Farming Conference and ORFC in January.

Caron Whaley, RABI’s director of services, will take part in a panel discussion at ORFC – ‘Can farming and food traders weather the economic storm’ – on 5^th January at 2pm. She will talk about the professional mental health support options available to farming people during these tough times, and RABI’s farming focused, accredited mental health training.

RABI will also premier a short film at OFC, featuring Exmoor farmer Oliver Edwards, whose poor mental health impacted not just him, but his family and farm business. Mr Edwards encourages others in a similar situation to seek professional support.

“The ripple effect of keeping problems to yourself can be huge,” says Ms Whaley. “Our Big Farming Survey results also showed a strong association between the health of a farm business and good mental health.”

The exceptional cost rises are also putting extra financial pressure on farming people. “To help prevent mental health and wellbeing within the sector getting worse, we need to break down the barriers stopping individuals asking for support,” she adds.

“No organisation can do this alone – we need our wider community to help us. We can’t be on every farm, so if you’re visiting a farm, you can help normalise the conversation around mental health and wellbeing.”

RABI regional manager for North Wales, Dewi Parry, will also be representing the charity at OFC, after being awarded a bursary by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society to attend.

When asked what he is most looking forward to experiencing during the conference, he says: “I’m hoping to learn about what farming in the future looks like, and whether this alternative way forwards that the conference will try to illustrate, leaves a place for the smaller family farms, which I believe need protecting.”