How loneliness is being tackled in rural communities

Farming by its nature can be a lonely and isolating business.

Long hours and little opportunities to leave the farm have frequently been cited as reasons for poor mental health across the industry.

As rewarding as the farming life can be, given the current political backdrop and day-to-day challenges, how do we combat loneliness, rural isolation and the mental health issues that often go with it, at times with devastating consequences?

See also: Farm Doctor: How to spot signs of poor mental health

Shining a light

Raising awareness across the UK are Lynda and Andy Eadon.

They have made it their mission to promote positive mental health awareness and support within rural communities, in memory of their son Leonard Eadon who tragically took his own life in 2022.

Open, honest conversations about positive mental health will help to keep families and communities together, say Andy and Lynda.

To help get people talking and keep Len’s Light shining, especially during busy lambing and calving times, they got the Big Farm Tea Break initiative under way for the second year running in March.

“A lot of farmers think they’ve got to work every hour under the sun, but if you just step out and have a bit of time for you and the family, you come back a lot stronger and a lot more focused,” says Andy.

“It’s not always easy, but just make a bit of an effort. When you’ve got a bit of time, just go round and see your neighbour if nothing else – it’s too easy not to,” adds Lynda.

Importantly, they stress, people need to have open and honest conversations about how they are and their feelings. 

“I wish my son Len had talked rather than take his own life,” says Andy.

“I can’t change our situation, but we’re trying to encourage rural communities to talk. We want to make sure other families don’t go through this heartache.”

An uplifting community

In England, the Farming Community Network (FCN) has also been working on bringing communities together to help uplift, empower and support people.

Its 2022 survey with the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research looked at rural isolation and its challenges.

This led to a series of events including the “Yarn in a barn” events during 2023, and its Farmwell events have continued to bring farming folk together in social settings.

“It can be easy to feel alone, it can be easy to feel disconnected, and it can be easy to feel like you’re the only person going through a particular thing,” says Alex Phillimore, FCN head of communications and development.

But, he says, it is important to remember that there is a “unique and powerful sense of community in farming”.

Ploughing on

In Northern Ireland, Rural Support has also harnessed the power of community to combat isolation and loneliness in farming circles.

To help, the charity runs two different projects – Across the Hedgerow and Plough On – each addressing the issue in different ways.

Across the Hedgerow provides older people from the rural community with listening support and companionship via regular telephone calls.

Plough On aims to tackle rural isolation and increase social opportunities for older male farmers, through socialising and participating in rural heritage and farming-based activities.

Since its inception in 2021, the project has supported 375 men across Northern Ireland through 17 groups, varying in size.

“To see them go out as a group of farming men, and then see the recognition and respect that is there for them because of all they have given us in terms of food production and stewardship of the land.

“They’ve earned their right to slow down and enjoy themselves,” says Aoibeann Walsh, head of social farming and innovation at Rural Support.

Ballymacbrennan Plough On group © Rural Support

Making new friends

John Johnston © Rural Support

For 87-year-old retired dairy farmer John Johnston from Portaferry, County Down, being a member of the Kircubbin Plough On group since March 2023 has been a great help.

He wishes more people knew about it.

“It’s slow progress to get people out of a lonely state – more people should join Plough On. It has been a real lifeline for me,” says Mr Johnston.

The group, he says, has been fundamental in helping him make new friends and get to know people in his local area.

“We need to get off the farm and meet up in person. Farming, with all its technology, in a way has made us poorer.

“We don’t see people anymore and at my age, it’s difficult to make new friends.”

His call to action for people across the country is to get out there and visit their neighbours in person.