We Are Farming Minds

Farming is hard. Isolation, long hours and pressures outside of your control can cause anxiety and depression. But while poor mental health in farming is 46% higher than in other occupations, rural communities have less access to support.

We Are Farming Minds is a registered charity founded in 2020 by Duchy farmers Sam and Emily Stables, following their own personal experiences with mental health challenges within farming. Their journey highlighted a clear lack of accessible mental health support for those living and working in agriculture, and the charity was created to ensure that no one in farming feels they have to struggle alone.

Sadly, agriculture has one of the highest suicide rates of any occupation in the UK, with on average around one farmer a week taking their own life. Farming can be an incredibly isolating profession, with long hours, financial pressures, weather challenges and increasing regulation all contributing to poor mental health within the industry.

We Are Farming Minds provides practical and confidential support in several ways. The charity operates a 24/7 confidential support line, available via both call and text, allowing farmers and those working in agriculture to reach out whenever they need help. Where appropriate, individuals can also access fully funded professional counselling, with a suitable counsellor sourced and support typically beginning within seven days. In urgent situations, the charity has even been able to process referrals and have someone in front of a counsellor in as little as a few hours.

Alongside one-to-one support, the charity runs a range of free social events aimed at tackling the isolation often experienced within the farming community. These include Men in Agriculture, Women within farming, and One Foot in the Grain, which supports retired and over-50s farmers. These events provide opportunities for farmers to connect, share experiences and build supportive networks.

We Are Farming Minds also delivers Mental Health Awareness Training in partnership with Herefordshire Mind, helping those within the farming community and those who work closely with farmers recognise the signs of poor mental health and respond appropriately.

The charity is based in Herefordshire but supports farmers across the wider rural community, including all Duchy of Cornwall tenants wherever they are based. With county borders often overlapping in rural areas, the charity regularly supports individuals in surrounding counties. If We Are Farming Minds is not the right organisation to help, the team will always ensure individuals are signposted to the most appropriate support available.

Prince William joined the charity as its patron and has taken a keen interest in improving mental health support within the farming community.

ADR and We Are Farming Minds are working to encourage farmers across the UK to reach out for help. Throughout the year we will be displaying merchandise and contact information at all agricultural events across the calander.

We are also enouraging Young Farmers to come to ADR UK with support from We Are Farming Minds to explain how they can help.

Support We Are Farming Minds offer:

- Provide 24 hour support through our dedicated support line
- Provide funding for professional counselling if required
- Provide FREE mental health workshop to individuals and professionals in the farming community
- Provide resources and advice for further help
- Provide social events to combat isolation and bring farmers together
- Provide reassurance through personal experience that things can and will get better
- Provide a befriending service for people that are lonely or isolated

To find out more please contact ADR or We Are Farming Minds with the below contact information.

Support line numbers are:

Call: 0808 802 0070
Text: 07786 203130

Contacts and information