Appeal for greater tolerance in rural areas to cut suicide risks

LEADING FIGURES have called for greater understanding among the nation’s farming and rural communities to embrace diversity after hearing how persecution had driven some victims to the brink of suicide.

Concerns have been expressed that the often traditional viewpoints of countryside communities have not fully embraced the diversity of life in the 21st century.

Organisers of the annual Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), which is held in January, have now launched a campaign to highlight the problems minority groups have faced in rural areas ranging from racism to homophobia.

Matt Naylor, this year’s chairman of the OFC, was the founder of the Agrespect network, which is aimed at promoting diversity in the countryside.

He said: “Since I first joined the board of the OFC, I really wanted to start a conversation about how diversity is a positive thing.

“The best way to solve a problem is to look at it from as many perspectives as possible so we have tried hard to get representation from a lot of talented people who don’t fit the traditional mould of those in the farming industry.

“Many people feel you have to conform to a stereotype in order to fit into agriculture, this really isn’t true.

“I realised from my own experience that feeling able to be completely open about my sexuality has meant that I can contribute to the industry more authentically and to better effect.

“This was one of the main drivers for Agrespect, we wanted to show that agriculture can be a rewarding and welcoming career for everyone.”

Evidence has emerged of victims of persecution in market towns and villages who have been driven to the brink of taking their own lives as they attempt to deal with their sexuality or race while living in traditional countryside communities.

One case highlighted by the OFC involved a young gay woman who had considered suicide because she felt she could not tell her parents about her sexuality.

Sue Pritchard, the director of the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, said: “A divided and polarised society is getting in the way of tackling the

Restoring empathy and compassion, these things matter...

Sue Pritchard, the director of the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. critical issues in front of us – from the climate and nature crises to increasing mental and physical ill-health in communities.

“But we’re all at risk of feeling disconnected, whether through things like race or sexuality, or through feeling that you simply don’t ‘belong’ anymore.

“Challenging prejudices, breaking down barriers, restoring empathy and compassion, these things matter now more than ever.”

Official figures have revealed that there were more than 100,000 recorded hate crimes throughout England and Wales last year, with incidents more than doubling since 2013.

However, there are concerns that many offences in countryside communities are going unreported, and police forces covering rural areas have urged victims to come forward.

North Yorkshire Police issued a plea in March for anyone who had been subjected to a hate crime to contact officers.

The OFC’s chairman for 2021, Sally Williams, said: “It’s my belief, as a young woman rooted in the farming sector, that we need to be embracing of dynamic people in our farming and rural places, whatever their beliefs, skin colour or gender.”

As part of the awareness campaign, the OFC is launching online videos as part of its #OFCbitesize series.