For many farming is an incredibly rewarding profession but it can also be incredibly challenging at times. Anyone can reach a point when pressures become too much and if that happens it is important to reach out for help.
Industry pressures
Stress and depression are common illnesses in the UK. People working in farming dealing with financial pressures, irregular weather patterns, and market and price volatility are as susceptible to stress as anyone else.
Common symptoms include low mood, anxiety and changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Often the first step in dealing with issues is to talk with somebody.
Find local help in your area or find out about help from national organisations.
(Call costs may vary.)
Cheshire • Cornwall • Cumbria • Derbyshire • Devon • Dorset • Durham • Gloucestershire • Herefordshire • Isle of Wight • Lancashire • Lincolnshire • Norfolk • Shropshire • Somerset • Suffolk • Staffordshire • Warwickshire • Wiltshire • Yorkshire • Cymru • National organisations
Local help in your area
Cheshire
Wellbeing support
Cheshire Ag Chaplaincy
Available 24/7
Cornwall
General advise and wellbeing support
FarmCornwall
Wellbeing support & advise, and pop-up venues
Farming Health Hub
Cumbria
Wellbeing support
Cumbria Ag Chaplaincy
Farmer Network
Derbyshire
Wellbeing/Pastoral support
Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy
RAD (Rural Action Derbyshire)
Wellbeing and business support
Farming Life Centre
Devon
Hill Farmers support and advise
Dartmoor Hill Farm Project
Business support for hill farmers
Exmoor Hill farming Network
Dorset
Wellbeing support
Sherborne Deanery Rural Chaplaincy
Durham
Business and wellbeing support
UTASS (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services)
- 01833 641010
- 07917 304685 (out of hours contact)
- [email protected]
Gloucestershire
General/wellbeing support
Gloucestershire Farming Friends
Herefordshire
Business, information & support network
Herefordshire Rural Hub
Mental Wellbeing support
We Are farming Minds
- 08088 020070 (call)
- 07786 203130 (text)
- [email protected]
24/7 support
Pastoral Support
Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy
Isle of Wight
Business support
Wight Rural Hub
Lancashire
Health & Wellbeing drop-in clinics
Field Nurse
Lincolnshire
Health and wellbeing support & drop in clinics
LRSN (Lincolnshire Rural Support Network)
8am– 8pm 365 days a year
Norfolk
Mental Wellbeing support
YANA (You Are Not Alone)
Shropshire
Wellbeing support
Shropshire Rural Support
Not time bound
Pastoral Support
Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy
Somerset
Pop-up living room talking hubs
Farmerados
Raising awareness
SMHAG (Somerset Mental Health in Agriculture)
Business support for hill farmers
Exmoor Hill farming Network
Suffolk
Pastoral Community Support
Lightwave rural and agricultural chaplaincy
- 07413 683368
- [email protected]
- 24/7 support
Mental Wellbeing support
YANA (You Are Not Alone)
Staffordshire
Wellbeing support, business support
Farming Life Centre
Warwickshire
Business and rural support – free membership
Warwickshire Rural Hub
Wiltshire
Wellbeing support
Sherborne Deanery Rural Chaplaincy
Yorkshire
Business support and events
Yorkshire Agricultural Society
Wellbeing support
Farmer Network
Cymru
Mental Wellbeing support
DPJ Foundation
- 0800 5874 262 (call)
- 07860048799 (text)
- [email protected]
Available 24/7
Wellbeing support
Tir Dewi
- 0800 121 4722
- [email protected]
- 7am – 10pm 365 days a year
National
General support and advise
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI)
- 0800 188 4444
- [email protected]
- Support for young people: kooth.com/rabi
- Support for adults: qwell.io/rabi
Wellbeing support
Farming Help (FCN, Addington Fund, Forage Aid)
7am-11pm 365 days a year
The Man Down Project
Accidental Counsellors
Disaster Relief – Housing
Addington Fund
Disaster Relief – livestock support
Forage Aid
Wellbeing support
Gay Farmer Helpline
General support
Agricultural Chaplains Association
Rural community support
ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England)
Mental health and farm safety training 16-40 years
Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies)
General support and advise for gamekeepers
Gamekeepers Welfare Trust
Horticulture wellbeing support
Perennial
9am-4.30pm Monday, Tuesday Thursday & Friday (excluding bank holidays)
10am-4.30pm Wednesday
Wellbeing in agriculture
Just Talk Agri
Under 35s mental wellbeing support
Papyrus HOPELINE
24/7 support
Mental Wellbeing Support
Samaritans
24/7 support
- Freephone 116123
- [email protected]
- Online or face-to-face chat: samaritans.org/contact-samaritan
Mind
- 9am-6pm Monday – Friday (except bank holidays)
- 0300 123 3393
- [email protected]
Shout
- 24/7 Text service
- Text “shout” to 85258
Debt advice
If your mental health has been affected by financial issues, please access PayPlan - our free debt advice service.