In conversation with Adam Henson...
Well known to viewers of BBC’s Countryfile as the face of farming, Adam Henson is well qualified to speak candidly about the stresses and strain of farming in the current climate – both political and meteorological. Hard though it can be, Adam acknowledges that what keeps him going when things get tough is his deep love of farming, and the support of his family and his business partner, Duncan Andrews. But, as Adam knows from personal experience, not everyone in farming is so lucky - the pressures faced by many farmers over which they have limited, or no, control can overwhelm them, with heartbreaking consequences.
Farmers struggling with mental health
It was the tragic death of a friend in his early forties, a farmer turned firefighter who, suffering from severe financial and personal pressures, took his own life that motivated Adam to get involved with the ‘Keeping on Track’ series of wellbeing podcasts. Produced by The Sound Doctor, the series uses real life examples to explain why and how farmers are struggling with poor mental health and the pernicious effect it has on them and their families. The aim is to provide practical advice on where to seek help and give farmers the tools to help them tackle some of the challenges they face. As Adam notes, the more people who realise they are not alone in feeling that they can’t cope, the greater the chance of saving more lives.
Adam pointed out that although the pandemic has encouraged more discussion around the importance of good mental health in wider society, this has not necessarily filtered down to the farming community, which has traditionally prided itself on its resilience and stoicism particularly in the face of adversity. Farmers, working long hours in often harsh conditions, have always had to cope with changing circumstances on a daily basis, but in recent years these changes have come thick and fast, leaving many on the verge of desperation, a fact borne out by a depressingly high suicide rate among farmers of all ages and genders.
Paperwork can be the last straw
In Adam’s view, it is often the business side of farming, including regulatory compliance, that can be the final straw for many. Having to deal with paperwork at the end of a long day, dealing with rules that keep changing, and getting to grips with everything moving online, is a challenge that many fail to grasp. With farming incomes increasingly squeezed, many farmers cannot afford to pay someone to help them with form filling and record keeping, triggering a cycle of failure. To illustrate the point, Adam described the sad case of a farmer who had bought some sheep that had been tagged incorrectly. Terrified that this would spark a wider inspection of all his records, and despite his son trying to help, he committed suicide.
Help is on hand
The first step to finding help is acknowledging the problem in the first place. Adam hopes that as a result of this podcast series, farmers and their families will speak out and not suffer in silence. He extols the work of RABI, the Farming Community Network, the Farm Safety Foundation’s ‘Mind Your Head’ initiative, the Samaritans, and charities such as The DPJ Foundation in Wales, in ‘normalising the conversation around mental health’ and helping those in despair. Encouraging more ‘drop-in’ centres like the one at Bakewell Market, which gives farmers an opportunity to discuss any problems in a familiar and non-judgmental environment, and training regular farm visitors such as vets and inspectors to spot the signs of distress and deal with them sympathetically, would be valuable additions to the cause.
Keeping on Track – series 2
Anecdotal evidence from the Samaritans, and from Adam personally, suggests that the first series of ‘Keeping on Track’ may have helped to save two lives. Adam is hopeful that the second series, currently at the planning stage, will be able to continue this valuable work. It will look at the positive aspects of farming including practical tips on nutrition, sleep, and exercise to help people cope better, along with interviews with key industry figures, such as farmer and rugby union referee, Nigel Owens, who has been asked to take part. It’s time to banish the stigma around mental health and this needs to be a collective effort from everyone in the sector. Hopefully, podcasts like ‘Keeping on Track’, the valuable work being done by rural charities, and the willingness of us all to sit and listen will help to save a life. You can listen to Series 1 here.
