mental health Positive changes in farming

Inevitably, there is considerable scope for tension and stress, particularly in uncertain times, with rising inputs and the costof-living challenges. When you then factor in the potential to be affected by loneliness, compounded by lockdown and long hours of physical work, it is perhaps not surprising that too many people in Scottish agriculture are affected by poor mental health.

However, there are some really encouraging green shoots of change, with conversations opening up about mental health and many initiatives taking place to help keep the momentum up.

RSABI has introduced a raft of steps to help farmers and crofters struggling with mental health and other difficulties. Last year we extended the hours of our free Helpline –0808 1234 555 – which is now open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Our service is friendly, confidential and professional and we’ve also introduced a live webchat function, which we think will particularly appeal to younger people.

The majority of our welfare team’s time is now spent on providing emotional and practical support. The sort of mental health problems we are seeing range from loneliness (we provide regular calls to those feeling isolated) and social anxiety to panic attacks or depression. Importantly, the team will also take the time to look behind emotional problems to see if we can help further for example with financial advice or arranging a farm business review.

Our #KeepTalking campaign this winter focused on encouraging people to look out for each other (particularly during the long winter months), to take a break from working and to make time to reconnect with people they haven’t seen for a while.

We’re proud to be working with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) to trial a Thrive Mental Wellbeing app for the first time in UK agriculture, which includes access to a live, in-app chat feature with qualified therapists available at the touch of a button.

We’ve also seen a very significant lift in the number of requests we receive for counselling which we can arrange free of charge and very quickly for someone who is feeling overwhelmed. This is set against a bigger picture of people having to wait for up to a year to start counselling once referred by their GP, such is the pressure on NHS waiting lists.

Last year, we developed a Mental Health First Aid training initiative with a company founded by former Royal Marines and, after a successful pilot phase, we are now rolling this out around the country.

There are many synergies between farming and marines –from working in tough weather and terrain, to the use of firearms, antisocial hours and dealing with public scrutiny. The former Royal Marine leading our courses has 37 years of service and experience to draw on, including sharing his own mental health journey.

The training is aimed at people working in the frontline with farmers – from assessors and agronomists to vets and auctioneers. We have also been pleased to welcome SAC Consultants to our training programme.

Collaboration is vital in the drive to improve mental health in Scottish agriculture, and we work closely with many excellent partners, such as the Rural Mental Health Forum, SAYFC ‘Are ewe ok?’ initiative and the Farm Safety Foundation’s Yellow Wellies ‘MindYourHead’ campaign.

A tour of Scotland by New Zealand dairy farmer Marc Gascoigne, hosted by Farmstrong Scotland, has also helped continue the momentum behind normalising conversations on mental health, with Marc sharing his own journey and the great techniques he successfully uses to keep mentally and physically fit.

For more information on the services and initiatives offered by RSABI please visit www.rsabi.org.uk. Open 24/7, our free Helpline (0808 1234 555) is friendly, professional and confidential. Please don’t hesitate.

Main photograph above is Archie MacKinnon, Head Shepherd at Auchnacloich, Glen Quaich with the Kilted Barber, Campbell Ewen, at Lynemore in front of Loch Freuchie, gearing up for the Scotsheep Trimathon.

Get in touch

Carol.McLaren@rsabi.org.uk