With farmers 3.5 times more likely to die from suicide than the general population, it is safe to say that the industry is in crisis.
October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a global campaign which advocates for mental health to be ‘prioritised, protected, and promoted’ in the workplace. Nowhere is there a greater need for this than in the farming sector.
With farmers 3.5 times more likely to die from suicide than the
general population, it is safe to say that the industry is in
crisis.
We recently conducted a UK-wide survey in conjunction with Bryant
Research and the University of Bath into a previously neglected
aspect of farmer mental health: the emotional and moral toll of
caring for animals that are going to be killed. Of the 287 survey
participants, 115 were current or former livestock farmers.
Presently in peer review for publication, below we give you a preview of our findings:
Clearly, farmers are affected by the moral paradox of caring for animals destined for slaughter and would trade this task for other financially viable opportunities were these available. The above findings also lend credence to our 2022 study which showed overwhelmingly that farmers are open and willing to change.
Contrary to the narratives of the farming unions and press, farmers are not attached to farming livestock, they are attached to making a living, and if the opportunity arises to do that in a way that excludes livestock, they will take it. The full survey report will be shared on our website after publication.