![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3cf092046bac0831500858f8457f0366.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
New figures show that wellbeing in the farming industry has fallen to its lowest level in four years<\/p>\n
A growing number of farmers in Kent are seeking support for their mental health, a representative from the Farming Community Network (FCN) says.<\/p>\n
New figures from the FCN, a charity which supports those within the farming community, show that wellbeing in the industry has fallen to its lowest level in four years.<\/p>\n
Hugh Richards has been going to Ashford Farmers’ Market every Tuesday for eight years, wearing his FCN jacket and making himself available to talk.<\/p>\n
He says attitudes among farmers to mental health are slowly changing.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Politics South East<\/a>, he said: “Within the past year I’ve been approached directly by people asking for help. That takes guts to come up and say ‘I want to talk’.”<\/p>\n Richards believes isolation plays a significant role, with many farmers working alone for long hours, often in tractor cabs or with livestock, and who may not be used to opening up.<\/p>\n The decline of traditional rural meeting places, such as village pubs and local shops, has also reduced opportunities for social connection.<\/p>\n New research from the Farm Safety Foundation shows farmers’ mental health is at its worst in four years, with those aged over 61 seeing the sharpest decline.<\/p>\n Official figures for last year are yet to be released, but in 2024, 47 people working in farming in England and Wales died by suicide \u2013 a 7% rise in two years.<\/p>\n Steve Glover says farmers are under mounting pressure<\/p>\n Steve and Roy Glover, who have a farm near Dartford, say what was once a pleasure has become mounting pressure.<\/p>\n Alongside long hours, they face rising costs, extreme weather, labour shortages<\/a>, competition from imports and increasing bureaucracy.<\/p>\n “If it was any other industry it would be catastrophic,” says Steve Glover.<\/p>\n His father Roy Glover, 84, added: “I’ve never seen a worse time in farming.”<\/p>\n Both say greater understanding from policymakers and more open conversations are vital to stop farmers struggling in silence.<\/p>\n A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said farmers were “at the heart of our food security and environmental stewardship”.<\/p>\n “Their mental health and wellbeing matters, and we want to ensure they can access support when they need it,” they added.<\/p>\n “We know that farmers and rural communities face real pressures, and we continue to listen to their concerns so that we can better respond to the difficulties they face.”<\/p>\n Follow BBC Kent on Facebook<\/a>, on X<\/a>, and on Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk<\/a> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links![\"Farmer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ce21e1f919c935e8cbd6dee1d7d62a4b.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n