Counselling service helps fight increasing stress levels on farms

A NEW online counselling service has been launched by a charity in response to the increasing levels of uncertainty and pressure facing farmers now and in the future.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution ( RABI) announced its new initiative which is designed to help maintain mental health in the long term as well as providing immediate, ‘ crisis’ support.

RABI’s Chief Executive, Alicia Chivers said no one should take mental wellbeing for granted.

“We know that farmers have continued to face exceptionally difficult times,” Ms Chivers said.

“Managing mental wellbeing and maintaining good mental health has emerged as one of the most significant issues facing our sector, which is already known for its higher than average levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and suicide.”

Ms Chivers said the charity’s aim is to “make a real difference” to the farming community.

“We believe early intervention and one- to- one support are essential to ensuring good mental health and tackling the root causes of poor wellbeing.

“And we believe that providing confidential, easily accessible, free online support can make a real difference to a wide audience.”

The charity has partnered with Kooth, a team of mental health wellbeing specialists to provide the new service, which is tailored to the whole farming community, addressing issues like Brexit anxiety, animal health and crop disease and farm debt.

And Ms Chivers said the charity understands young people can feel the pressures of life on a farm as well and the site offers a separate platform for 11 to 17- yearolds.

Designed to be as accessible as possible, the sites are anonymous with support material including forums, magazines and messaging and counselling sessions which will be available on both a drop- in and pre- booked basis at set hours during the week and weekend.

Ms Chivers said the charity believed that offering practical support through the sites would be a “constructive and hugely positive step forwards”. She added: “The launch of the online wellbeing community is a significant step towards achieving our vision that no farmer should ever face adversity alone.”

This new initiative also forms the first element of RABI’s new five- year strategy which, the charity said, will aim to see it reach a broader audience.

“We need to initiate frank and honest discussions throughout agriculture to tackle this complex subject,” Ms Chivers said.

“Our role is to offer encouragement so people can access the services they need, early enough to make a difference, hopefully preventing them from reaching crisis point.” But, she said, this could not be achieved alone and the charity would be working with others to reach as many people as possible.

“We are also reaching out to numerous stakeholders and organisations, who I hope will join us by raising awareness more widely and amplifying these important messages.

“We understand the issues that farmers face and really care about finding and developing tools that can assist.

“Our aim is to make a real difference to the farming community that RABI has been dedicated to for the past 160 years,” Ms Chivers said.

No farmer should ever face adversity alone. The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution’s Chief Executive, Alicia Chivers.