Collaboration is key in mental health roundtable at Groundswell

It was great to come together with representatives from national farming help charities and farm support groups such as Farm Cornwall, RSABI, RABI, The Cumbria Farmer Network, YANA, Yellow Wellies, We Are Farming Minds, Addington Fund, FCN and Jamie’s Farm to discuss how we work together to tackle mental health problems fueled by financial stresses, isolation, environmental pressures, suicide, feelings of lack of control and the increasing mental health problems facing young people in rural communities.  

During the discussion, which was chaired by YANA Chair and arable farmer, Tom Streeter, we were delighted to be joined by HRH The Prince of Wales, who was keen to hear about the on-the-ground learnings from these groups from across the UK. 

Prince William talked about the need to replicate the success of the work of charities tackling mental health in the farming community, such as We Are Farming Minds, of which HRH is Patron, and the importance of discussing mental health issues much more openly. 

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund, spoke about the national role the RCF plays through its Farm Support Groups Network which brings together over thirty organisations across the UK all of whom are addressing mental health and wellbeing issues in their farming community.  

The group discussed the work they are all doing to remove the stigma of talking about mental health amongst these communities as well as the growing need to support young people going into farming and living in farming communities who are suffering from increasing social isolation.