‘We’re really struggling!’ Farming industry facing mental health crisis as one farmer takes own life every week

Joint Chair of the Farm Herefordshire Partnership, Martin Williams said: "Yes, we’re really struggling at the moment. These are extremely difficult times in farming, and the mental health crisis is very acute right now.

"I think, as a general public, there is probably more that could be done. There seems to be quite a detachment from farming.

"It’s very easy for people to go into a supermarket, pick products off the shelf, and not necessarily realise the hard work and strain that goes into producing that food.

"The hours are long lambing sheep, harvest time it’s painstaking work. And the weather has a huge impact. Last year in particular was incredibly tough.

"We had an exceptionally hot summer, and large parts of the country experienced drought conditions. There simply wasn’t enough rain for crops to grow.

"Crops failed, farmers had nothing to harvest, nothing to sell, and that has a massive knock-on effect on how they’re feeling.

"From a public point of view, I think there just needs to be more recognition of where our food comes from and the effort that goes into producing it.

"Anyone who knows anything about farming understands how unbelievably hard farmers work. But more and more, we’re hearing people say, 'I’m doing this job and I’m not actually making any money.'

"That’s the reality. Many farmers are operating at a loss, which is incredibly sad and shows the state of the industry at the moment.

"As you mentioned, on average one farmer per week in the UK is taking their own life.

"When you consider that farming makes up just 1.3 per cent of the UK workforce, that’s an astonishing and deeply worrying figure.

"It’s something we all need to work together to reduce.

"It needs to be tackled on two fronts. Yes, we need more mental health support.

"I don’t want to get drawn too far into politics, but there may well be more that could be done to make life easier for farmers rather than harder."

The warning follows new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing that 47 suicides were registered in England and Wales in 2024 among people working in farming and agriculture underlining the scale of the crisis in rural communities.

The Farm Safety Foundation, also known as Yellow Wellies, says the sector is battling what it calls the industry’s “biggest hidden problem”, with suicide prevention now at the heart of its annual Mind Your Head campaign.

Now in its ninth year, Mind Your Head Week is taking place this week urging farmers, rural organisations, agricultural colleges and Young Farmers Clubs to spark potentially life-saving conversations and strengthen support networks across the countryside.

Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said that while awareness of mental health has improved in recent years, efforts to prevent suicide have not advanced at the same pace.

She said: “Over the past nine years, we have made significant strides in raising awareness and improving education around mental health. However, when it comes to suicide prevention, progress has been far more limited."

Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.