Getting out into North Yorkshire’s farming communities
Farming can be rewarding, but it can also be tough. Long hours, financial pressures, isolation and the responsibility of keeping a farm running can all take their toll.
When we spoke to farmers and farming families for our Ploughing through barriers report last year, people told us that support needs to be easier to find and available in places farmers already go.
So that’s what we’ve been trying to do.
Getting out and meeting farming people
Since June, we’ve been out at agricultural shows and auction marts across North Yorkshire.
We’ve been to the North Yorkshire County Agricultural Show, Borrowby Show, Aldborough and Boroughbridge Agricultural Show, Tockwith Show and Reeth Show, as well as spending time at auction marts in Northallerton, Thirsk and Pateley Bridge.
It’s given us the chance to chat to farmers, farming families and others working in agriculture about mental health and wellbeing, and to share information about the organisations that are there to help.
The idea is simple: to take information and support into places farmers already go.
And we’re not finished yet. We’ve got more auction mart visits coming up over the autumn.
Making support easier to find
We know there isn’t one type of support that will be right for everyone.
That’s why we’ve put together a dedicated online support page for farmers, agricultural workers, farming families and others living and working in rural communities across North Yorkshire.
It brings together practical, financial and emotional support in one place, including organisations that understand farming and the pressures that can come with it.
We’ve also been getting information out through leaflets, posters, information cards and mugs, all pointing people towards support if they - or someone they work or live with - need it.
Looking out for each other
Sometimes it’s a family member, friend, neighbour or someone you work with who notices that things aren’t quite right.
We’re also promoting free mental health awareness training from the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), which is designed with farming communities in mind.
It can help you spot when somebody might be struggling, feel more confident starting a conversation and know where to point them for support.
From listening to action
This project grew out of what farmers told us during our earlier work on farming and healthcare.
Our Ploughing through barriers report heard from 220 people from farming communities about some of the challenges they face looking after their health - from long working hours and difficulties fitting in appointments to isolation and the stigma that can still exist around asking for help.
Since then, we’ve seen some really positive changes. Healthcare teams have taken health checks and advice into livestock markets and some GP practices are finding new ways to identify and support people who work in farming.
Our findings have also helped inform wider work looking at rural health across North Yorkshire.
This mental health project is another part of that work - taking what farmers told us and doing something practical with it.
Read more about the changes happening since farmers shared their experiences with us
Come and say hello
We’ll be back at auction marts in Northallerton, Thirsk and Pateley Bridge over the coming months.
If you see us, come over and have a chat. You don’t need to be looking for support yourself - you might simply want some information for a friend, family member or someone else you know.
About the project
The project is supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
It has received £12,539 to help men working in farming understand what mental health support is available and how to access it early.
