Supporting the mental health of farmers and farming communities

Recent studies¹ in several EU countries have underscored the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support for the farming community that takes into account the unique challenges of rural life and the specific issues faced by those in the farming profession. On the other hand, societal perceptions and stigma often prevent farmers from accessing mental health care and even from discussing their needs openly.

Between February and May 2024, the Thematic Group (TG) on Supporting the Mental Health of Farmers and Farming Communities worked to identify approaches fostering the mental health and well-being of farming communities, particularly farmers, across the EU. Following a public expression of interest, a group of 40 CAP stakeholders (including farmers, advisors, authorities, and researchers) gathered in person and online to discuss this important topic.

The TG discussions – particularly the first TG meeting, which set the scene for the rest of the process – highlighted some important elements to consider. These included the importance of awareness-raising campaigns; the need for holistic approaches to farmers’ mental health and the role of rural networks and communities; and the need for integrated, sustained strategies to address mental health challenges in farming communities.

There is an urgent need for action, and many good initiatives that are already in place can be adapted and replicated in other contexts. All CAP stakeholders can play a role. What can you do? As part of the TG's work, its members co-created several outputs informed by their expertise. Their practical approach – informed by concrete experiences across different contexts – make these documents useful resources for all CAP stakeholders with an interest in this topic and a desire to drive change.

To understand the topic better, you can check the list of Useful reads compiled by TG members, signposting you to reports, articles and research. Policy insights and expert views are provided in two articles looking respectively at overall considerations and recent policy developments to support the health and well-being of the agricultural workforce, and on the opportunities for tailor-made mental health policy approaches.

In the second TG meeting, members identified 12 key ingredients for supporting the mental health of farmers and farming communities. They are presented in a document which also includes relevant initiatives adopted in different Member States, which help illustrate how some of the key ingredients are applied in practice in different contexts. This document can be very useful to help design new strategies and action, or to improve existing services.

Supporting the mental health of farmers, their families and communities requires coordinated action and synergies among different stakeholders. Building on the key ingredients, TG members developed – thanks to a very interactive day in Brussels – 15 action-oriented recommendations targeted at different actors from farmers to institutions, from research bodies to LEADER Local Action Groups, and rural communities. The recommendations refer to five areas of interventions: education and awareness; policy frameworks enabling community-led initiatives; support services and infrastructure in rural areas; research and data; and institutional approaches.

Experts Sally Shortall and Salvatore Barillà (Newcastle University) accompanied the work of the TG and combined the outcomes of the TG discussions with their own extensive knowledge of the topic to produce an overview of good initiatives and elements of replicability to support the mental health of farmers and farming communities. The briefing provides important insights to analyse the common traits shared by successful local, national, and European initiatives, looking at the main challenges these initiatives face and at possible solutions. The document concludes with key questions to help practitioners and policymakers advance the debate on mental health in farming in the EU.

Networking is key to making progress, so the list of TG members can help you find useful contacts in your country. You can always get in touch with the EU CAP Network to learn more, share your knowledge and ask your questions using the address implementation@eucapnetwork.eu.

[1] For example https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/future-agriculture-and-forestry-implications-managing-worker-safety-and-health and https://oshwiki.osha.europa.eu/en/themes/psychosocial-issues-agriculture-sector