Launch of Farmer Mental Health Policy Brief hosted by Maria Walsh MEP

This event builds on a previous Policy Seminar in 2024 involving a wide range of stakeholders.

Key EU policy recommendations will be shared followed by a debate with MEPs, CEJA, COPA-COGECA/GEOPA and EFFAT on the course of action to improve mental health in farming. The event is open to relevant stakeholders. To attend please contact alun.jones@iamz.ciheam.org.

The idyllic vision of farming as a relaxing healthy outdoor life amongst nature is not an accurate representation of contemporary farming. Farmers and farm workers experience significant occupational health and safety risks including psychosocial challenges. These include uncertainty relating to weather conditions and financial viability, long working hours, isolation, concerns regarding succession and generational renewal and exposure to multiple stressors that can impact mental wellbeing.

There was general agreement that the main challenge for improving farmer mental health is the fragmented nature of current support systems and the lack of a coherent policy framework. Currently, mental health support for farmers falls under the remit of various national and EU institutions including those responsible for health, agriculture, employment, and social affairs. In many instances, policies and interventions have been developed independently with little consideration of how they interact at the level of the individual farmer or farm enterprise.

Based on the latest policy, practice and research developments, as well as stakeholder consultation during a previous SafeHabitus Policy Seminar,10 key recommendations will be presented addressing the systemic challenges affecting farmer mental health across the EU. These recommendations will recognise that effective mental health support requires coordinated action across multiple policy domains and governance levels.