Farmer demand for mental health support rises
© Adobe Stock Demand for counselling and support services among UK farming communities has risen, prompting charities and researchers to expand services amid rising suicide figures.
Scottish farming charity Rsabi has reported a significant increase in requests for counselling, with referrals now the most common reason people contact its 24/7 helpline.
See also: Mind Your Head week to focus on preventing rural suicides
Demand is being driven by multiple pressures on UK farming, including prolonged financial strain, policy uncertainty, volatile markets, rising input costs, isolation and workload intensity.
These are compounding stress and leaving many farmers increasingly vulnerable to poor mental health.
Counselling services
Rsabi welfare manager Chris McVey said: “Rsabi is seeing unprecedented demand for the counselling services the charity offers free of charge to those who are struggling with their mental wellbeing.
“Requests to be referred for counselling are now the single most common reason for calling our 24/7 Helpline.”
He added that the organisation has expanded its prevention work.
“We have substantially increased our suicide prevention work, including employing a full-time suicide prevention lead and delivering free suicide prevention training, as well as Mental Health First Aid training,” he said.
Rsabi is also providing support to farming families of those who have taken their own lives.
The charity is currently working with Glasgow University on a major research project examining suicide in agriculture.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that 47 suicides were registered in England and Wales among the farming and agricultural industry in 2024 – a 7% increase compared with 2022.
Mr McVey said the aim is to understand “how we can ensure we are taking the most effective steps to prevent suicide in farming and crofting communities”.
Research from the Farm Safety Foundation (also known as Yellow Wellies) has shown that UK farmers’ mental wellbeing has fallen to its lowest level in four years.
More complex cases
Other charities are reporting similar pressures.
The Farming Community Network (FCN) said cases are becoming more complex, often involving mental health issues alongside financial stress and family relationship challenges.
FCN head of operations Alex Phillimore said: “Mind Your Head returns this year with a focus on suicide prevention.
“The campaign continues to shine an important light on the challenges facing the sector, while providing tangible interventions and normalising important conversations around mental health.”
This week marks the Farm Safety Foundation’s ninth annual Mind Your Head week (9-13 February), which focuses on reducing suicide risk in UK agriculture.
Foundation manager Stephanie Berkeley said: “As we enter 2026, we want to address the issue of suicide awareness and prevention… When communities know what to say and what to do, lives can be saved.”
