It has been said that the psychological and social impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic are likely to outlast the physical symptoms of the virus. This is a particular issue within the agricultural and veterinary industry, as whilst UK farmers are renowned for the attention they give to their livestock, crops and machinery, it appears they do not have such a good track record when it comes to taking care of themselves and their own wellbeing.
The impacts of the coronavirus outbreak are being felt by farmers and growers right across the UK. Like farmers, farm vets are categorised as key workers due to being involved in food production. Farm practices are working incredibly hard to continue to provide essential services during this difficult time.
Many farmers have long standing relationships with those who visit their farms this might include delivery drivers of gas, oil, red diesel, animal feed, agrochemicals, farm insurers or people they connect with at market. We often think that help should always be practical or financial, but help can be a conversation – and in this new world of social distancing, maintaining contact with each other is even more important. We can still pick up the phone and ask, “how are you today?”
We are all so grateful for our farmers who grow food for us. Mental Health Awareness Week have chosen kindness as the theme this year because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. In July 2019 a group was formed of people across Somerset it is an open forum currently of 18 people but this changes at each meeting. We call ourselves the Somerset Mental Health in Agriculture Group.
Mental health and suicide are clearly serious issues that the farming community, as well as wider society, needs to address. However, the picture of suicide among agricultural workers is a complex one and we have been advised must be painted with care. The latest ONS data indicates that the risk of suicide in farming varies significantly according to the type of agricultural work being done. Those in agricultural and fishing trades, for example, carry the highest risk of suicide in the industry, which is several times that of the broader population. Farm workers also carry a significantly elevated risk of suicide compared to wider society. Crucially, farmers (including agricultural contractors, agricultural technicians, crofters (farming), farmers and herd managers) are not any more or less likely to commit suicide than the broader population. We have taken this into context when developing our resources.
Background
The group decided to look at where the gaps were in current resource provision. Somerset is one of the most rural counties in England we need to make our rural areas mentally safe for people to live and work.
The group created a pocket size Z Card which gives those visiting farms information about what to do if they spot signs and symptoms of mental ill-health. Our second project is to create a short 3 min film and training package to work alongside the Zcard. We need your help to disseminate this new resource.
The Z Card
The main messages on the Z card are Farming Mental Health Z Card (for screen) v3 VISUAL
- Life can be hard sometimes and we need to look out for each other.
- Do you have concerns about someone’s mental wellbeing?
- Have you seen any changes in their behaviour?
We invite the reader to consider the following in terms of have they noticed:
- Declining interest in the farm
- Change in personal appearance
- Catastrophic and negative thinking
- Withdrawing from social events, family and friends
- Stress in the family – for example financial or emotional stress
- Difficulty sleeping
- Reliance on medication, alcohol or drugs
- Irrational thinking, such as focusing on worst-case outcomes
- An increasingly negative attitude towards their life
- Difficulty in taking decisions – both big and small
We encourage the person to ask the question twice, ” Sometimes we say we are fine when we are not.” and trust their gut feeling.
We then signpost to the Community Farming Network Rabbi, The Samaritans or dial 999.
Here is the Online Copy of the Z Card it’s a PDF
Below are the images you can use to help promote this campaign and some hashtags
Please use hashtags #Mentalhealthfarming #Mentalhealthfarmingsomerset #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #ThankYouFarmers #FarmersWellbeing #FarmHeroes #FarmersAreKeyWorkers #kindnessmatters #mentalhealth #FarmersWellbeing and #ThankYouFarmers.
Here are some cut and paste ideas to help us promote this campaign
Monday 18th May Twitter: It’s #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, so let’s support our #keyworkers! To those #farmers and agricultural workers who continue to serve us, providing the food & milk we need-thank you. https://bit.ly/3fv7hny #ThankYouFarmers #FarmHeroes #FarmersAreKeyWorkers #kindnessmatters #Mentalhealthfarmingsomerset
Wednesday 20th May Twitter:
Help support our farming #keyworkers with @newleafonline & The Mental Health in Agriculture Group https://bit.ly/3fv7hny. Some info here for when you’re visiting our nation’s farms. #KindnessMatters #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #FarmersAreKeyWorkers#Mentalhealthfarmingsomerset
Friday 22nd May Twitter:
To those who touch base with our nation’s farms-from the vets to the oil & grain deliverers #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek Download and share a resource to support our #keyworkers. #Mentalhealthfarmingsomerset https://bit.ly/3fv7hny
For Facebook:
It’s #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, the theme this year is kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. In Somerset we have created a new resource called the Z card. This card is to help those visiting farms who have concerns about someone’s mental wellbeing. The card gives shows what signs to look out for and how to offer help. If they need help it then gives a list of where to go for help. https://bit.ly/3fv7hny You can download the online version of the Z card so let’s support our #keyworkers! To those #farmers and agricultural workers who continue to serve us, providing the food & milk we need-thank you. #ThankYouFarmers #FarmHeroes #FarmersAreKeyWorkers #kindnessmatters #Mentalhealthfarmingsomerset
For LinkedIn: (cut and paste)
Many farmers have long standing relationships with those who visit their farms this might include delivery drivers of gas, oil, red diesel, animal feed, agrochemicals, farm insurers or people they connect with at market.
We often think that help should always be practical or financial, but help can be a conversation – and in this new world of social distancing, maintaining contact with each other is even more important. We can still pick up the phone and ask, “how are you today?”
We are all so grateful for our farmers who grow food for us. Mental Health Awareness Week have chosen kindness as the theme this year because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health.
In Somerset a new campaign has been launched the Z card. The card shows what signs to look out for and how to offer help. If they need help it then gives a list of where to go for help. https://bit.ly/3fv7hny
Download the card here:
https://www.newleaf.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/Farming-Mental-Health-Z-Card-for-screen-v3-VISUAL.pdf
Help with the campaign here
#FarmersAreKeyWorkers #kindnessmatters #Mentalhealthfarmingsomerset
The group who give their time for free as volunteers are:
- Becky Wright Chair – New Leaf Mental Health Trainer
- Mandy Trunks – Administrator New Leaf
- Tod Merson – Retired family farmer volunteer with Farming Community Network
- Dave White – Family Farmer, working with the LEP looking at the potential of Tech in the rural communities
- Alan Tate-Smith – BKG Insurance providing insurance to farmers
- Suzie Wilkinson – Farming Community Network
- Martin Hill – Film maker
- Lydia Cox – NFU County Advisor
- Rupert Cox – Royal Bath and West Show Chief Executive
- Alan Lyons – Head of Shows Bath and West Shows
- Simon James – Open Vision working in the insurance market digital mental health solutions
- Mike Rowe – Volunteer for Farming Community Network
- Pam Wills – RABI Welfare charity coordinator
- Rob White – Evans and Pearce Contractors to Farmers
- Mark Cox and Lorna Filby – Mole Valley Farmers
- Richard Cooksley – BCFTA – Training Events for Grain and Feed Trade
- Nick Smith – Retired lawyer volunteer with FCN
