How Red Umbrella Supports the Needs of Farming Businesses

The needs and struggles of employees vary significantly from industry to industry, hinging on factors such as working conditions, environment, work patterns, the type of work and much more. 

According to the Farm Safety Foundation, as many as 95% of young farmers say poor mental health is the biggest hidden danger in farming today, making mental health in the industry a critical issue which requires the appropriate level of attention and support. 

The agricultural industry presents unique mental health and wellbeing challenges, mostly pertaining to economic and social pressures, environmental conditions, uncontrollable circumstances and physical health issues. 

Working with a range of farming businesses to help them implement mental health support strategies that effectively meet these specific needs, Red Umbrella has a wealth of expertise working to support the sector.  

What are the main wellbeing-related challenges for farmers? 

1. Isolation and loneliness 

Farmers are required to work in remote and rural areas for extended periods of time, mostly working alone and only enjoying limited contact with others. The repercussions of this on mental wellbeing can be significant: social interaction plays a vital role in keeping workers happy and healthy, being associated with better mental and physical health. With farmers working in remote locations, they may also have limited access to healthcare services, making regularly accessing help more difficult. 

2. Economic pressures 

In the farming industry, financial uncertainty is common, driven by fluctuations in the market, high operational costs, and weather dependence. Economic pressures are one of the main causes of stress, anxiety and depression for workers, putting farmers at high risk. 

3. Long working hours 

The nature of farming jobs demands long and antisocial working hours, making having good work-life balance a challenge for farmers. With less time available to enjoy social activities and hobbies, farmers are more likely to develop feelings of loneliness as well as to become stressed and experience burnout. 

4. Physical demands 

There is a strong link between physical and mental health, with each affecting the other. Farming is a physically demanding industry involving continuous manual labour, which increases the risk of exhaustion and injury. Farmers who experience physical health problems or injuries may also not be able to work, either in the short or in the long term, potentially leading to financially motivated stress, anxiety and depression. 

How does Red Umbrella guide farming businesses through these challenges? 

1. A holistic approach 

Farming is an industry where stigma surrounding mental health can be prevalent, and where conversations about mental health are not common. Red umbrella works to dispel misconceptions surrounding mental wellbeing at work, creating healthier work environments. Farmers may not be used to receiving mental health support in the workplace, meaning that a holistic approach that starts with the basics is often beneficial. This could begin with mental health awareness training and extend to other types of training, as well as counselling and therapy services with therapists who fully understand the challenges of the industry.  

2. Multiple ways to deliver support 

To adapt to the needs of different businesses and industries, Red Umbrella is equipped to deliver mental health support services in a range of ways. We understand that farmers may not be able to leave their farm to access therapy, but may still want to receive face-to-face support, and have the resources to offer home visits even in remote areas. Or, they may want to access services virtually, making our webinars, virtual training and e-learning solutions excellent resources.   

3. Long-term partnerships 

Red Umbrella invests in building solid working relationships with its partners, working alongside them to understand strategic goals, problem areas and unique requirements – in a highly exhaustive way. This is where our consultancy services become pivotal, helping organisations implement the right mental health support systems and policies, as well as changes to their culture. Establishing long-term partnerships also allows us to continue to assist the business as it grows and evolves, helping it adjust to relevant changes and developments. 

4. Specialist solutions  

With extensive experience in providing solutions to the agricultural industry, our team of experts is able to provide specialist services to farming businesses, catering to their unique needs. Further, if our existing options aren’t suitable for a specific business, we’ll create new ones, whether that involves building an entirely new training course or a solution designed to assist in a specific situation.  

Do you want to learn more about how we work with farming businesses and the solutions we offer? Reach out to the team through our contact page and we’ll be more than happy to advise you.