Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Farmers: Mental Health

Thursday 12 January 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jeremy Wright thanked Andy and Lynda Eadon for raising awareness of mental health challenges in the farming community.
  • DEFRA's farmer welfare forum collaborates with organisations like Farming Community Network to support farmers' mental health.
  • Tonia Antoniazzi highlighted the importance of farmer wellbeing in her constituency and praised an exhibition at Swansea Museum aimed at raising awareness.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeremy Wright Con Kenilworth and Southam
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Mental Health
Context

Jeremy Wright asked about steps to support farmers' mental health, referencing the tragic loss of a young farmer due to suicide by his constituents Andy and Lynda Eadon. He highlighted their efforts in raising awareness for mental health challenges among younger farmers.

Question

My right hon. Friend knows that my constituents Andy and Lynda Eadon lost their son as a young farmer to suicide. Will he join me in thanking the Eadons for all the work they have done to raise awareness of mental health challenges, particularly for younger members of the farming community? Does he share my view that we should do much more to ensure that mental health awareness and an understanding of where to go for help when it is needed is built into the education and training received by those going into farming?

Answer from Mark Spencer

Of course, I join my right hon. and learned Friend not only in paying tribute to Andy and Lynda Eadon, who have done fantastic work following the tragedy they experienced, but in recognising the importance of this issue and how we should all be able to talk to someone to assist us at moments of great challenge. I met Andy and Lynda at the recent National Farmers Union community farming heroes awards, where they were honoured and paid tribute to for their work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions or commitments related to integrating mental health awareness into education and training programs for farmers.

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Q2 Jeremy Wright Con Kenilworth and Southam
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Mental Health
Context

Jeremy Wright raised concerns about the impact of farming on mental health, mentioning the DEFRA farmer welfare forum and the need for support services.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help support farmers' mental health?

Answer from Mark Spencer

DEFRA's farmer welfare forum brings together England's largest farming and welfare organisations that provide mental health support, such as Farming Community Network, which I was pleased to join recently at an online meeting. We also recently opened the third phase of the future farming resilience fund, which provides free business advice to farmers, and supports mental health and wellbeing where appropriate.

Answered
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Q3 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Mental Health
Context

Tonia Antoniazzi highlighted the importance of farmers' wellbeing in her constituency, referencing a local museum exhibition aimed at connecting agricultural workers who struggle with their mental health to resources that can help them.

Question

The wellbeing of farmers in my constituency is a priority, and I work closely with the NFU and other organisations. Last week, I was fortunate enough to go to Swansea Museum, where there is an exhibition called, “Stories of a Changing Landscape”. It is hoped that the exhibition will create a point of connection for agricultural workers who are struggling with their mental health and with the issues with which years and generations have suffered. They are the people who feed our country. Will the Minister join me in congratulating Councillor Andrew Stevens, and the DPJ Foundation and Kate Miles, and in supporting them in the future? We need to prioritise our farmers' wellbeing to keep them feeding the nation.

Answer from Mark Spencer

I of course join the hon. Lady in congratulating Andrew Stevens, and all the charities doing work in the sector. Farmers work long hours and are often isolated and do not have opportunities to speak to other people. Those charities working with the sector are doing great work, but we all have a responsibility to try to help and support colleagues across our society.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions or commitments related to supporting mental health initiatives like the exhibition mentioned.

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