House of Lords event highlight realities of mental health crisis in UK agriculture
By: Communications
Policymakers, health and agricultural leaders came face-to-face with the realities of the mental health crisis in UK farming during an event at the House of Lords this week.
It followed the launch last month of the Rural Minds project, which uses Virtual Reality (VR) to raise awareness and understanding of mental health in agricultural communities.
The initiative has been created by Dr Jordan Tsigarides from UEA and Suffolk GPs Dr Daniel James and Dr Richard West, in collaboration with Cambridge-based creative technology company Revolve Labs.
The project uses immersive VR storytelling to highlight the lived experiences of farmers and rural workers.
The event on Wednesday, November 12, was organised by Dr Tsigarides and Dr West together with Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, a strategic advisor on Food, Farming and Environment and former Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.
It aimed to shine a light on the project and encourage relevant policy change to support agricultural mental health. There were also VR headsets available for attendees to try.
Dr Tsigarides, from Norwich Medical School, said: “We had an excellent event launching this project at the House of Lords and hope it will act as a springboard for national discussion on how agricultural and rural mental health can be better supported through coordinated policy.
“This includes the Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Future Farming Resilience Programme, and initiatives within the UK Food Strategy and NHS Long Term Plan that touch on rural health inequalities.
"By sharing lived experiences through Virtual Reality, we aim to highlight how isolation, financial strain, generational pressures and stigma continue to impact the wellbeing of farmers.
“Our goal is to ensure that the unique needs of farming and rural communities are fully recognised within these frameworks, particularly around early intervention, access to mental health support, and education for healthcare professionals working with agricultural populations.”
Dr Tsigarides added: “In the longer term, we hope Rural Minds will inform cross-departmental thinking between DEFRA, DHSC, and NHS England to help reduce suicide risk and improve mental wellbeing in rural areas."
The Rural Minds project is funded by the Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust, a Suffolk-based agricultural charity
Among those who attended on Wednesday were Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Victoria Atkins, Robbie Moore, Shadow Minister, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Neil Hudson, Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Also, Members of the House of Lords Baroness Watkins of Tavistock and Baroness Redfern, as well as representatives of the Duchy of Lancaster estate and the Royal College of General Practitioners.
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