Charity launches life-saving scheme to protect rural Britain amid alarming suicide rate for ‘lonely farmers’

The latest Office of National Statistics figures showed 47 suicides were registered in England and Wales among the farming and agricultural industry in 2024, up seven per cent from 2022.

Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said: “While agriculture in the UK benefits from rural support groups and charities who deliver vital support, a critical gap remains - there is still very little suicide prevention training tailored specifically for those working in agriculture.

“Farming brings a unique set of pressures - long hours, isolation, financial uncertainty, generational expectations and physical risk.

“Conversations about suicide in rural communities require approaches that are real, relatable and rooted in lived experience.

“Without training designed for the realities of agricultural life, we risk leaving those most vulnerable without the tools they need to recognise warning signs and intervene effectively.”

Mental wellbeing among UK farmers over 40 years old has hit a four-year low, with wellbeing among farmers aged 61 and over seeing the sharpest decline, despite historically being the most resilient group.

To counteract the curve, The Farm Safety Foundation is collaborating with fellow National Suicide Prevention Network member Baton of Hope to launch a farming-themed digital suicide awareness and prevention package.

This initiative is supported by The Royal Foundation’s £1 million funding to drive innovation and delivery in suicide prevention.

The new eLearning module is built on best practice and practical scenarios, equipping learners to recognise warning signs, use supportive language, and signpost the specialist help available in the sector.

Chloe Lucas, 39, farmer and former paediatric nurse from Basildon, Essex, possesses first hand insight into the concerns within the industry, with a background working in mental health.

She now rents farmland in Wickford, Essex and grazes a fold of highland cattle, working from two other areas of land with Natural England operating ‘the highland hideout’ to offer mental health support for rural communities.

She told GB News: “I’ve struggled with my own mental health and I’m practically skint, but I carry on because I love what I do - farmers deserve more credit.

“I started out volunteering on farms and quickly found it to be an isolated, male dominated industry, and how lonely many farmers were.

“Those that have received the farm through generations often feel trapped in it, with other factors such as poor weather, financial strain and heightened responsibility creating feelings of unrest.”

She highlighted how farmers are often asset rich rather than having money in the bank, “running themselves into the ground and taking home pennies,” citing one farmer she met working from 3.30am until 10pm.

“The Mind Your Head campaign has made fantastic progress with local drop ins, coffees and chats,” she said, “but people still think farming is like a fairytale, but you need to work so hard, it’s a vicious cycle.

“Farmers are feeding the world, and with overseas food imports on the rise, I don't understand how the government thinks it's ok to tear farmers away and leave them with absolutely nothing.”

The charity has also created a hero film for the campaign, bringing voices together in a way that “speaks straight to the heart of farming”, following real people’s struggles.

It features Dean Arnold, 54, a farmer from the Chepstow area of Monmouthshire, Wales, who planned to take his own life due to the mental health and financial pressures weighing him down, until he was “saved” by a friend.

He told GB News: “I work a full time job alongside farming - I’m out from 6am to 7pm - there’s sides people don't see.

“I barely have time to eat, I’m stressed, and I hardly ever sleep - luckily I learned to cope with my mental health years ago, but it affects all of us.

“Farmers don't ask for help, particularly men, and I want to do what I can to help other farmers - it was Yellow Wellies that kicked me into gear.”

Dean has taken to social media to share his journey and further encourage people to talk, saying: “the media is a powerful weapon for farmers, and we’re getting more and more backing from the public.”

Speaking on the new campaign, Karen Hodgson, associate director at The Royal Foundation said: “It is great to see collaboration in action, bringing innovative approaches to suicide prevention and reaching communities that need it most.

“This work will make a real difference to those living and working in rural communities across the UK.”