February 09, 2026 - 212 views
Farmers across North Wales are being urged to start vital conversations about mental health after new figures showed wellbeing in the farming community has fallen to its lowest level in four years.
Research by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) reveals that mental wellbeing among UK farmers now lags behind that of the general population, with the sharpest decline seen in those aged over 61 – traditionally one of the most resilient groups in the industry.
The findings come as the latest Office for National Statistics figures show 47 suicides were registered among people working in farming and agriculture in England and Wales in 2024.
The warning will resonate strongly in rural parts of North Wales, where farming remains central to local economies and communities from Anglesey and the Llŷn Peninsula to Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham.
Many farmers in the region face long hours, isolation, financial pressure and uncertainty around markets, weather and policy changes – all factors known to impact mental wellbeing.
The Farm Safety Foundation has launched its ninth annual Mind Your Head campaign, running from 9 to 13 February 2026, with a renewed focus on suicide awareness and prevention.
The campaign is calling on farmers, Young Farmers Clubs, agricultural colleges and rural organisations across North Wales to learn how to spot warning signs, start supportive conversations and connect people to help earlier.
Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said while awareness of mental health in farming had improved, suicide prevention remained a major challenge.
“Farming brings a unique set of pressures – long hours, isolation, financial uncertainty and generational expectations,” she said. “That ‘just get on with it’ mindset can mean some people leave it too late to ask for help. Communities need the confidence and skills to recognise when someone is struggling and know how to respond.”
The charity’s research, based on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, shows mental wellbeing among farmers over 40 has hit a four-year low, with those aged 61 and over seeing the most significant drop. Until recently, this group reported wellbeing levels above the national average.
As part of the campaign, the Farm Safety Foundation – a member of The Royal Foundation’s National Suicide Prevention Network – is working with Baton of Hope to launch a farming-focused digital suicide awareness and prevention package. The work is supported by funding from The Royal Foundation and is designed specifically for agricultural communities.
During Mind Your Head week, a new online suicide awareness and prevention training module will also be launched, tailored to farmers and rural workers. The course aims to help people recognise warning signs, use supportive and non-judgmental language, and know where to turn for specialist help – including charities and support services already active in rural Wales.
With farming communities in North Wales often tight-knit but geographically spread out, organisers say the message is simple: talking earlier can save lives.
Further information about the Mind Your Head campaign is available via the Farm Safety Foundation’s Yellow Wellies channels.
