Farmers and agricultural workers face unique pressures, including long working hours, increased threats of physical injury and financial concerns, all of which increases their overall risk of experiencing poor mental health.

It is important we do all we can to raise awareness of the importance of looking after mental and physical health within farming communities, as well as the support available and how to reach it.

I recently had the privilege of attending the launch of the Samaritans’ Our Farming, Our Future project at the Royal Welsh Show. It was clear to see the positive impact it will have on supporting all those living in rural communities in Wales.

It aims to equip the next generation of farmers in Wales with the tools and skills needed to face the challenges of farming life. 

I also had a chance to meet the DPJ Foundation, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), the Farming Community Network and Tir Dewi to talk about the importance of mental health support for farmers, their families and wider communities.

I expect they will all be at agricultural shows across Wales over the next few weeks.

By sharing information about mental health, we can help create a supportive culture within Welsh farming and hopefully prevent future suicides and harm.

The Welsh Government has previously awarded the DPJ Foundation more than £65,000 to improve the provision of bereavement support to the agricultural community. Organisations like this are pivotal in tackling the issue and showing rural communities that there is support available, but that it is accessible and waiting for them.

We’ve also previously funded free mental health awareness training for people supporting the farming industry, so they can signpost farmers to the best source of support. We want to ensure those visiting farms and speaking to farmers have all received training so they ar alert to signs of when someone may need some additional help.

And we’ve provided £45,000 to develop Farmwell Wales – an information hub aboutpersonal and business resilience for farmers and their families, which in turn has supported more than 9,000 people since it was launched in March 2020.  

We also support a range of other important activities to aid mental health in rural communities, including the Wales Farm Support Group, which brings together farming charities, to share knowledge and expertise.

We have just finished a public consultation on our draft Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy, which includes a focus on strengthening our understanding of risk factors associated with suicide and self-harm, and targets efforts to support the most vulnerable in the places where they engage. 

Alongside this, we are also working on a new 10-year Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which aims to promote, support and empower people to improve their mental health and wellbeing, and be free from stigma and discrimination. Both strategies recognise the mental health needs of farmers and those working in agriculture. 

I strongly encourage anyone suffering with stress or other mental health issues, regardless of whether they work on a farm, live in a rural community or are part of the farming community, to ask for help when they need it.