farmers and stress
by Elaine Brass
Few occupations are more stressful than farming. Financial worries, isolation, complicated paperwork and animal health scares all contribute to farmers' high anxiety levels. For many farming families, the recent foot and mouth epidemic and concerns about BSE have piled on extra pressure.
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Even before the recent foot and mouth crisis, British agriculture was experiencing the worst agricultural depression since the 1930s, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU). Average farm income fell by 75% in the last two years, while more than 450 people a week left the industry during the last 12 months, NFU figures show.
The foot and mouth epidemic created enormous extra stress for many farmers and even now the aftermath – in handling health restrictions and financial fallout – is still causing problems.
what causes stress in farming?
The very nature of farming is itself the cause of many strains for farming families. Farming can be an isolating profession, as farmers traditionally work long hours, outside, often in bad weather and alone. An NFU survey in 1999 showed that 62% of farmers were working more than 61 hours a week. A spokesperson for The Samaritans, which handles many calls from stressed farmers, says: 'There is the fortress farming mentality – work is home and home is work. There is nowhere to get away from it all – nowhere to escape from the same mindset.'
An additional stress for many farmers is the speed of change within the industry over the last 10 years. New government and EEC regulations have brought with them mountains of paperwork which many farmers find stressful. At the same time, farming families have faced critical public opinion and press coverage in recent years.
Caroline Davies, director of the Rural Stress Information Network (RSIN), says: 'Farmers are at a very vulnerable stage, they are exposed to a lot of criticism, and they do feel that society is against them.'
James Morrish, development officer for the RSIN in the south west, says calls for help have fallen since foot and mouth disappeared. But he still receives between 50 and 60 calls a day from farm workers seeking advice. Isolation is the biggest problem, with economic difficulties and animal health regulations also causing pressures.
money problems
Many farmers face severe financial hardship and worries about their survival. Figures collected by The Samaritans and the NFU reveal:
- One in four farmers has financial problems and more than three out of four are worried about finances.
- More than 50,000 farmers and farm workers lost their livelihoods from June 1998 to June 2000 – the biggest exodus in living memory.
- 70% of farmers had very low confidence in their businesses surviving the next 12 months, according to a survey in 1999.
- the total agricultural workforce in England and Wales fell by 19,544 or 4.3% from 1998 to 1999.
suicides up
The mounting despair within farming over the past few years is reflected in the rising suicide rate. Figures from the Office of National Statistics in 2001, reveal that 74 farmers took their own lives in England and Wales in 1999.
Committing suicide using firearms is nearly 10 times more common among farmers than among males in the general population, largely because firearms are more readily available to farmers.
Ben Gill, president of the NFU, says: 'There is not a farmer in the country who cannot name at least one friend, associate or colleague from within the industry who has taken his life because of the intense concerns they have for the future.'
coping with stress in farming
No matter how stressed farmers feel, they can't just call in sick. 'Practically, even if you are in the worst state of stress and shock, you still have to go outside every day, feed the sheep, milk the cows and tend to the animals,' says Brian Warren, a dairy farmer in Devon and a representative of the Farm Crisis Network which helps farming families who are experiencing problems.
This culture of just getting on with things can mean that stress goes ignored. And it is not just the farmers themselves who take the brunt of the strain, but also wives and families.
Often, says Caroline Davies of the RSIN, it is the women who make the first move to deal with the situation. 'With the men, the initial problem is getting them to speak. It is women who will pick up the phone and talk when they are under stress,' she says. Many calls to the RSIN come from women worried about their husbands or partners, who just won't talk about things, she adds.
Talking to someone is always the first important move towards coping, The Samaritans advise. 'The burden of uncertainty and distress caused by another setback can be overwhelming. Talking to someone can be the first step forward,' says a spokesperson.
There are several organisations dedicated to helping farmers cope with stress and providing stress counselling. For contacts points see below under help and info. Two of those organisations, the Farm Crisis Network and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, suggest the following tips to help farmers cope.
stress survival tips
- If you are feeling sluggish or under the weather see a doctor to make sure that the cause is not a medical one, meaning you are putting yourself under undue stress.
- If you wake up and worry during the night, get up and talk to someone. You can always call a helpline during the night.
- Think about joining a local farm support group in your area. You can find a local address from the organisations listed below.
- Check regularly on people who might be more vulnerable than yourself, particularly those who are older or living alone.
- Make sure you are getting all the financial help and benefits you are entitled to receive. You can ask professional and other organisations to help you.
help and info
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If you think you might be suffering from stress you can check through typical symptoms under 'warning signs' in our what is stress? feature. For more ideas of organisations and people to contact look in our get help directory.
organisations and helplines
The Farm Crisis Network
Manor Farm
West Haddon
Northampton NN6 7AQ
Tel: 07002 326 326 (Every day, 7am-11pm)
E-mail: mail@fcn.org.uk
Website: www.farmcrisisnetwork.org.uk
Helps families in farming and related activities who are experiencing problems.
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)
27 West Way
Oxford OX2 0QH
Tel: 01865 724931 (Mon-Thur 9am-5pm, Fri 8.30am-4.30pm)
Emergency Helpline: 01865 727888 (Mon-Thur 9am-5pm, Fri 8.30am-4.30pm)
Website: www.rabi.org.uk
National charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland dedicated to assisting members of the farming community who are suffering hardship.
Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution
Ingliston
Newbridge EH28 8NB
Tel: 0131 333 1023
E-mail: rsabi@rsabi.org.uk
Website: www.rsabi.org.uk
Dedicated to the relief of hardship and suffering in the Scottish rural community.
The Rural Stress Information Network
Arthur Rank Centre
Stoneleigh Park CV8 2LZ
Tel: 024 7641 2916
E-mail: enquiries@rsin.org.uk
Website: www.ruralnet.org.uk
An umbrella charity, working with a range of partners in England and Wales and at local level with farming and rural support groups.
National Debtline
48 - 52 Floodgate Street
Birmingham B5 5SL
Freephone Helpline: 0808 808 4000 (Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm)
Website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Gives free information to people living in England, Wales and Scotland.
websites
Farming Help
www.farminghelp.org.uk
Contact details for the MAFF Rural Stress Action Plan Partners, providing a range of services including advice, guidance and practical and emotional support for all in the farming community.
Farmers Weekly Interactive
www.fwi.co.uk
Gives immediate news, prices and opinions on what it is happening in agriculture. Updated daily with discussion forum for farmers.
DEFRA – Foot and Mouth Disease
www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth
Foot and mouth home page of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website giving a comprehensive overview of the epidemic with daily updates, factsheets and advice.
National Farmers' Union (NFU)
www.nfu.co.uk
Website of the NFU, which represents farmers and growers in England and Wales.
reading
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Change on the Land by Stuart Gibbard (Old Pond Publishing, 1997) |
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Suicide and Stress in Farmers by Keith Hawton et al (The Stationery Office Agencies, 1998) |
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(updated November 2002, resources updated May 2005)
