The mental health of women in farming must not be ignored
Shropshire, England Farmer Becci Helm feeding Shetland sheep
4 min read
Farming in the UK is in crisis – not just financially, but also in terms of wellbeing.
The mental health of our farmers is one of the biggest issues facing the sector, yet it remains largely ignored. Today, 95 per cent of farmers under 40 consider poor mental health to be one of the biggest hidden problems in the industry.
While much attention is given to the struggles of male farmers, women in farming face unique and often unspoken challenges.
Women juggle farming duties with domestic work and childcare, all while experiencing isolation, and in some cases domestic violence. A 2023 University of Exeter survey found almost 58 per cent of farming women who took part in the research had some form of anxiety.
Growing up on my family’s farm, I saw how central my mother was – and still is – to the day-to-day management of the business. Yet agriculture is still often seen as a male-dominated industry.
For too long, the mental health of women in farming has gone unnoticed. I am pleased that the University of Exeter and the Farming Community Network are beginning a major new study on this issue. It is long overdue, and I look forward to supporting their work and exploring the findings in detail.
The culture of silence around mental health in farming is a massive barrier when seeking support. Farmers work long hours, often alone and in difficult conditions. Their resilience is remarkable.
But there is still a stigma around sharing struggles that we must break. Working with organisations like the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), RABI and Farmerados, I am committed to bringing attention to the mental health challenges farmers face. I will continue to use my voice in Parliament and as a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee to speak up for farmers’ mental health, because much more remains to be done.
The current crisis in UK agriculture is exacerbated by policies made by a Labour government that doesn’t understand farming. This comes after 14 years under the Conservatives – who oversaw unfair post-Brexit trade deals, mismanagement of the agricultural budget and a botched environmental land management scheme (Elms) transition. Farmers were calling for change but must now bear the brunt of numerous damaging decisions this Labour government has made in less than a year.
The government’s disastrous family farm tax could spell the end for many multi-generational farms, forcing families to sell up to cover costs. The sudden closure of the sustainable farming incentive scheme feels like a double blow, as this scheme was essential in helping farmers protect the environment and adopt sustainable practices. Those who missed out and are no longer part of any scheme may find they are without the necessary financial support to carry on.
Meanwhile the Spring Statement provided little help, as the government failed to reverse any of its damaging policies or provide assurances that the farming budget would not be reduced further.
Farming is not just about producing food; it is about national food security, protecting nature and the environment, and supporting the wellbeing of our rural communities. Mental health in farming must be part of the conversation when we talk about the future of farming. If we don’t tackle these issues, we risk losing a generation of farmers – men and women who safeguard our countryside, food security and rural economies.
The government must improve access to mental health services in rural areas by supporting the continued rollout of mental health hubs. I am also calling for it to pause, rethink and reverse the family farm tax as well as increase the farming budget by £1bn a year.
This week, I am hosting an event, Future of Farming in Somerset, bringing together industry experts to discuss the issues facing our farmers head on. If we want to secure the future of farming, the time to act is now.
Sarah Dyke is Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton
