This Loneliness Awareness Week, we wanted to reflect on the unique challenges surrounding isolation and loneliness in the farming sector.
Farmers spend a huge amount of time on their own. They’re used to it and many wouldn’t have it any other way!
‘Hard work’ is an accepted and valued part of what it means to be a farmer. Long hours trying to keep businesses going, despite low returns, can leave little time for socialising, relaxing, or spending time with family and friends. It’s no wonder that loneliness is linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
There are many challenges being faced by farmers and their families when producing food and managing the countryside. It’s not just physical isolated from others, but being surrounded by the wrong people, or feeling that no one cares, can also take its toll.
Isolation can affect farmers and their families in different ways, depending on their age and life stage. Lack of social opportunities, geographical isolation, poor rural broadband and transport connections, declining business-related contact, and a general feeling that the public has a limited understanding of what is involved in farming, all contribute in their own way.
Loneliness and other mental health problems can also be compounded by a reluctance to talk about worries, even to those closest to you.
Recent research published by the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research and The Farming Community Network (FCN) provides insights into the causes of isolation and loneliness on farms in England. The report titled ‘It’s a lonely old world’: Developing a multidimensional understanding of loneliness in farming, can be read here. As part of this research, farmers, their families and other members of the rural community were interviewed. Some standout comments included:
- A farming man, aged 40-49, said: “I just couldn’t see anywhere to go. Because all I was doing, back then I was working on average I reckon 15-18 hours a day. I’d be sat on the tractor seat all day trying to earn money to keep the business afloat.”
- A farming woman, aged 18-29, said: “Being on a farm in the middle of nowhere… you are out on a limb in agriculture…the internet is rubbish, you can’t quickly send a message to someone, you can’t call someone because you won’t have signal, and there are so many hurdles in order for you to get anywhere, both physically and mentally. It just really takes its toll and just slowly grinds you down.”
- Another farming man, aged 50-59, said: “I don’t understand what people want from British agriculture anymore. That’s what makes me feel a bit lonely and a bit sad really.”
Recommendations
The report makes several recommendations:
- Regulatory inspectors and farm assurance assessors should be trained to recognise mental health issues.
- Rural GPs and Community Psychiatric Nurses should have greater information and training on the specific issues and challenges faced by members of the farming community.
- There should be an expansion of practical and business support for farmers.
- Continued investment in rural broadband access from local authorities/providers is essential to improve connectivity and reduce isolation.
- There should be greater social opportunities and networks (both in-person and online) for farmers, farm workers and farm family members locally.
- Further education of young people on food production, farming and environment is necessary in helping to attract more people into farming and to reduce feeling of ‘disconnect’ from wider society many farmers experience.
- Spending time with family and getting away from the farm should be normalised via promotion of a culture change within farming communities.
If things have started to get you down, there are organisations out there who can help. One of these is FCN. Their team of volunteers understands farming life and is here to listen and support you with any issues or worries you may have.
You can call FCN on 03000 111 999 or email help@fcn.org.uk.
FCN has also developed a website FarmWell which can help you understand how you’re feeling and help you contact with people.
