Dr Neil Hudson, Shadow DEFRA Minister and MP for Epping Forest attended an event in Parliament hosted by the Farm Safety Foundation (aka Yellow Wellies) to show his unwavering support for mental health initiatives in farming communities.
The Farm Safety Foundation, a leading charity in farm safety and wellbeing, has highlighted that 95% of UK farmers under 40 view poor mental health as the sector’s biggest hidden issue.* Research also shows that lower levels of mental wellbeing among farmers can lead to increased risk-taking behaviours.
During the event, Dr Hudson discussed the unique pressures faced by rural communities and reflected on his personal experiences as a vet during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Outbreak, emphasising its profound mental health impact on farming communities.
Speaking after the event, Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“Supporting the mental and physical health of those who feed our nation is so important. Our farmers face many stresses to their mental health including financial and tax worries, animal disease outbreaks, extreme weather events, and rural isolation to name but a few.”
“I am extremely proud to stand with the Yellow Wellies and other organisations working tirelessly to provide essential resources and support for our farming communities.
“I will continue to stand up for our farmers here in Essex and across the UK.”
Stephanie Berkeley, Manager at Farm Safety Foundation said:
“For a small charity with a team of four, we know we cannot do this alone.
“This is our 8th annual campaign and while there have been huge steps taken, there have also been huge challenges. Our research reveals that 91% of ALL farmers in the UK consider poor mental health to be the biggest hidden danger facing the industry, so collaboration is essential if we are to address such a sensitive subject and one that many in the industry still don’t feel comfortable talking about.
“We are grateful to Neil for his support and look forward to working together to challenge and change the attitudes to, and behaviours around, farmer wellbeing and hopefully continue to drive the improvements in the industry that we all need, and want, to see.”
For more information on mental health resources or Yellow Wellies’ initiatives, visit www.yellowwellies.org.
