The backbone of British agriculture is under fire, with experts warning of a mental health crisis among older farmers fuelled by isolation and “betrayal” by the state.
Speaking to GB News, Chloe Lucas of the Yellow Wellies foundation highlighted a growing “loneliness epidemic” specifically targeting farmers over the age of 60.
As the cost of living hits those who have spent decades feeding the nation are finding themselves increasingly isolated.
According to Ms Lucas, the very traits that make British farmers successful their rugged independence and work ethic are now becoming their biggest risks.
Speaking to GB News, she said: “It’s becoming increasingly difficult. Finances are a big issue as well, everything is going up in price.
“A lot of the older farmers I’ve met when visiting farms are very independent. They work alone. It can be very lonely. They don’t necessarily want to reach out because they’re so self-reliant they just want to get on with the job.”
GB News reporter Will Godley asked: “Farmers have also been in the news over the last year or so because of the proposed family farm tax that was introduced and then U-turned. Has that had an impact?
I would say 100 per cent. The Government has completely let the farming industry down. Farmers are trying to tackle climate change.
Chloe Lucas said older farmers are facing a lonliness epidem
“They’re looking after wildlife and the countryside. Many are generational farmers who put all their love and care into their land and then they feel the Government can just take it away.
“As a result, many families feel they simply can’t afford to continue running their farms. Ultimately, what’s happening is they’re selling up and that’s a massive shame.”
The warning follows new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing that 47 suicides were registered in England and Wales in 2024 among people working in farming and agriculture underlining the scale of the crisis in rural communities.
The Farm Safety Foundation, also known as Yellow Wellies, says the sector is battling what it calls the industry’s “biggest hidden problem”, with suicide prevention now at the heart of its annual Mind Your Head campaign.
Farmers protesting last year
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PANow in its ninth year, Mind Your Head Week is taking place this week urging farmers, rural organisations, agricultural colleges and Young Farmers Clubs to spark potentially life-saving conversations and strengthen support networks across the countryside.
Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said that while awareness of mental health has improved in recent years, efforts to prevent suicide have not advanced at the same pace.
She said: “Over the past nine years, we have made significant strides in raising awareness and improving education around mental health. However, when it comes to suicide prevention, progress has been far more limited.”
Amy Thomas, Head of Charity at LRSN, said there has been a sharp increase in the number of farmers seeking mental health support.
“Calls relating to farmers’ mental health have risen by 249 per cent over the past six years,” she says.
“In the last year alone, 11 people were identified as being at risk of suicide, and 33 people were affected by the suicide of someone close within the farming community.”
Alongside this, LRSN is seeing a clear increase in diagnosed conditions such as depression and anxiety, with more people, particularly younger men, turning to alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism.
She said: “Many farmers are at the end of their tether; stress levels are rising, largely due to the rapid and ongoing changes we are seeing across agriculture.”