Stress, support and survival: A young farmer’s inspiring journey
Joe Barker © Jenny Barker A young farmer who took on major responsibility for his family’s livestock business as a teenager has spoken openly about the pressures that pushed him to breaking point.
Joe Barker was just 15 when his father became seriously ill with spinal and heart problems, leaving him and his mother to help keep the family farming business running.
At the time, the Yorkshire-based enterprise covered 12ha of owned land and about 400ha of rented land, along with 5,000 bed-and-breakfast pigs, 200 store cattle, 400 breeding ewes, 75 breeding cows and a baling contracting business.
See also: Opinion: Mental health issues need empathy not appeasement
The strain intensified during the Covid pandemic, as the family balanced caring responsibilities, staff management and day-to-day farming pressures.
Joe says concerns about his wellbeing led his family to encourage him to seek help from his GP.
“Dad was sure that I was depressed and needed to go on antidepressants. However, I spoke to the doctor, and he said it isn’t a depression problem, it’s just pure stress and pressure,” he recalls.
Mental health impact
The family later decided to relocate to Scotland in 2024, selling their commercial cattle and sheep enterprises while retaining their pedigree flock and investing in new contracting equipment.
But the move brought fresh challenges.
Joe says leaving behind friends and familiar support networks became difficult, particularly after problems within the pedigree flock resulted in the loss of 70 lambs.
“We were new up here. I didn’t really know who to turn to,” he says.
“We’d spent a lot of money investing in new pedigree stock, and losing the 70 pedigree lambs was a huge blow.”
At the same time, his father’s health failed to improve, leaving Joe carrying much of the responsibility for the business.
He says the combination of pressure, isolation and guilt had a serious impact on his mental health.
“I got to that point, and I didn’t want to be here anymore,” he recalls.
“I wanted to run away. I felt like an absolute spoiled brat because this was all for me, or I felt like it was all for me, and it was just going all wrong.”
Seeking support
Having previously lost both an uncle and a school friend to suicide, Joe says he recognised the need to seek support.
He contacted a local counsellor and later completed an online mindset course, which he says helped him better understand his thought processes and regain confidence.
“Within four weeks of speaking to the therapist and doing this mindset course, I was like a different person,” he says.
Joe gradually became more socially active again, joining his local Young Farmers’ Club and the Scottish Beltex Club.
Speaking publicly about his experiences at his 21st birthday celebration also prompted others to share similar struggles.
“The amount of people that you don’t realise have been through something or have just had a wobble is unbelievable,” he says.
Managing mental health
Joe now takes a more proactive approach to managing his mental health, including regular exercise and making time away from work pressures.
“I try and get to the gym three times a week at least. My Young Farmers do five-a-side football and I go to that as much as possible and really make time for myself.
“We are our main asset. It’s not the farm, it’s not tractors, it’s not the livestock,” he says. “If we aren’t capable, then nothing gets done mentally or physically.”
He also encourages others in farming to speak openly and seek help early if they are struggling.
“If you’ve got a good support system around you and you’re afraid to speak up, I would say, just speak up, because there are people in your life who really love you and really want to help you.”
Wales YFC: Supporting young people’s mental health
Supporting the wellbeing of its members and helping to break the stigma around mental health in farming communities is a key responsibility of Young Farmers’ Clubs, Wales YFC chief executive Mared Rand Jones told Farmers Weekly ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May).
“Meeting in clubs every week, taking part in competitions and getting involved in activities helps keep young people socially connected and mentally active, while also giving them opportunities to learn new skills and develop confidence,” she says.
The Wales YFC works closely with charities including DPJ Foundation, Tir Dewi, Farming Community Network and The Samaritans.
Members help to promote their work and raise money throughout the year to ensure these organisations can continue providing vital support services to rural communities.
An excellent example of young people using their platform to raise awareness, Mared says, was at the NFYFC entertainment final.
Erwood YFC from Brecknock and Dyffryn Tanat YFC from Montgomery were placed first and second across Wales and England, with both performances focusing on mental health issues and the importance of speaking openly about them.
“YFC provides friendship, support and a strong sense of belonging, helping members know they are never alone and that it’s okay to ask for help when they need it,” she says.
