Spotlight on farming’s toll on mental health

The toll modern agriculture can take on the mental health of farmers and crofters is coming to light through national surveys, according to the NFUS president.

Andrew McCornick said the results of a mental health survey by Scotland’s Rural College should act as a platform to tackle the stigma that still exists around mental health in a traditional industry like farming.

“There is clearly much more that must be done to talk frankly and openly about mental health issues in farming and crofting circles, while at the same time raising awareness of the organisations that are there to help,” he said.

Mr McCornick, who sits on the National Rural Mental Health Forum, was speaking after the research showed one-in-four Scots suffered mental ill health at some point in their lives.

Jim Hume, convener/manager of the Forum for Support in Mind Scotland, said mental ill health could be more difficult to tackle in remoter parts of Scotland due to isolation, transport issues and stigma.

He added: “The National Rural Mental Health Forum is in a unique position to help rural communities tackle mental ill health through the outreach of the rural organisation members of the forum, the expertise of mental health organisation members and this ground-breaking research.”