Farming resilience: civil society's role in supporting vulnerable rural communities through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Sch of Agriculture Policy and Dev
Abstract
The experience of a pandemic at a time of rural change (the post-Brexit agricultural transition is the biggest change to rural policy in a generation) presents a range of unique challenges to farmers, rural communities and the civil society organisations that support them. The project seeks to: i) understand the success of different activities in limiting the 'scarring' effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on farmers' mental health and resilience ii) understand the impacts of the pandemic on civil society organisations themselves (including severe fundraising shortfalls, operational restrictions and social challenges) and iii) scale up these understandings to build system and community resilience against future shocks, such as the impending challenges presented by the post-Brexit agricultural transition. It will do this through a scoping review, surveys and interviews with civil society organisations, and a range of policy and practice workshops with a range of stakeholders, supported by established partnerships and a strong steering committee.
This research is important because we know very little about how the farming community, and the support systems underpinning them, are being affected by COVID-19. Our deliverables will enable policy-makers and organisations to support the levelling up of rural communities and to increase their community resilience to future challenges.
This research is important because we know very little about how the farming community, and the support systems underpinning them, are being affected by COVID-19. Our deliverables will enable policy-makers and organisations to support the levelling up of rural communities and to increase their community resilience to future challenges.
Publications
Shortland F
(2022)
Landscapes of support for farming mental health: Adaptability in the face of crisis
in Sociologia Ruralis
Rose D
(2022)
The Impact of COVID-19 on Farmers' Mental Health: A Case Study of the UK
in Journal of Agromedicine
Rose D
(2023)
Farming wellbeing through and beyond COVID-19: Stressors, gender differences and landscapes of support
in Sociologia Ruralis
Rose D
(2023)
The mental wellbeing of young farmers in Ireland and the UK: driving factors, help-seeking, and support
in Scottish Geographical Journal
| Description | We discovered that farming mental wellbeing is influenced by a number of stressors that combine to create moments of crisis. Driving factors include bad weather, climate change, policy change, family breakdown, succession issues, financial concerns, loneliness and isolation, animal and crop diseases, rural crime, media and public criticism etc. The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to make mental wellbeing in the farming community worse with over 60% of UK farmers reporting greater stress and anxiety. The 'Landscapes of Support' for farming mental wellbeing are diverse with a number of different types of supporter - including chaplains, mental health charities, primary healthcare and counsellors, peer groups, and informal social support at auction marts, agricultural shows, and in the community. These supporters adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to provide support, providing more assistance online or on the phone, using newsletters, and being more proactive in using the media to normalise conversations around mental wellbeing. However, the support landscape faces challenges through and beyond COVID-19, including organisational challenges (funding for staff and activities, staff digital training, and trauma affecting staff) and operational constraints in the wider environment (e.g. competition between different organisations, a rural digital divide, poor accessibility of state-funded primary healthcare, and stigma preventing farmers from accessing support). Our findings have contributed to written and oral evidence presented to the EFRA Select Committee Inquiry on Rural Mental Health, as well as to two workshops bringing together policy-makers, practitioners, and academics in collaboration with the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies). David Rose brought together a special issue of Sociologia Ruralis on farming mental wellbeing containing 7 papers from around the world. |
| Exploitation Route | - By policy-makers in supporting landscapes of support for mental wellbeing in farming. - By mental health charities and others in better understanding drivers of poor mental wellbeing in farming. - In future academic collaborations to fill research gaps, including a special session of ESRS 2023 organised by some project members. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| URL | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/soru.12425 |
| Description | This project has had considerable impact which will continue. Policy impact - we have engaged all devolved administrations throughout with representatives from Welsh Government, Scottish Government, DAERA and Defra attending our policy workshop. We were also joined by the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Wales and Chair of the EFRA Select Committee in England. Our press release featured a quote from Neil Parish saying that the Committee would use our findings to scrutinise Defra policy, which should lead to better policies for rural mental health. To this end, the team submitted written evidence and gave oral evidence to the EFRA Select Committee inquiry into rural mental health. We expect our recommendations to feed into the final parliamentary report once published. Media impact - we have made considerable media impact reaching millions of people through major TV, radio and print appearances. We contributed to an S4C TV documentary into rural mental health in Wales. The producer said that the programme received a very positive response and they plan a follow-up programme on the issue. Major appearances on Radio 4 (Farming Today), BBC Look North and South Today, ITV Meridian etc. have raised the problem of the issue of farming mental health and encouraged farmers to speak about the issue, helping to normalise it. Project members have been joined on radio and TV broadcasts by local farmers talking about mental health so we have inspired a conversation. Third Sector impact - our workshop brought together leading charities, chaplains, NHS providers and others who support farmers with their mental health. This improved togetherness and showed the need to increase collaboration opportunities. The team has spoken at the launch of the Northern Irish Agri-Rural Health Forum and those involved in setting that up found our insights useful in shaping this important initiative. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, to whom we gave talks, also said they found our insights useful in shaping compassionate interactions with farmers. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | EFRA Select Committee |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Title | Survey and workshop data (farming mental health project) |
| Description | Survey and workshop data used in the grant "Farming resilience: civil society's role in supporting vulnerable rural communities through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic" |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The datasets have been archived in relation to up to three papers which draw on the data. These datasets are available for other researchers who are exploring farming mental health in the UK. |
| URL | https://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk/855791/ |
| Description | University College Dublin |
| Organisation | University College Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We participated in a related piece of research on Young Farmers' Mental Health combining datasets from UCD and our ESRC-funded project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We participated in a related piece of research on Young Farmers' Mental Health combining datasets from UCD and our ESRC-funded project. |
| Impact | We submitted an academic paper which is in review in The Scottish Geographical Journal. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBC Berkshire Interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Three broadcasts. Station reach is 44,000 people. February 2021 - David Rose spoke about the aims of the farming mental health project. May 2021 - David Rose spoke about interim findings. February 2022 - David Rose updated listeners on findings, alongside three local farmers who were asked to discuss their experiences of mental health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | BBC Local Radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | David Rose has spoken to local BBC Radio Stations multiple times including: BBC Berkshire - 44,000 listeners - February 2021, May 2021, February 2022 BBC Radio Somerset - 50,000 listeners - February 2021 All February 2022 - interviews with David Rose or pre-recorded facts from the project BBC Radio Solent - 79,000 listeners. BBC Radio Suffolk - 110,000 listeners (weekly). BBC Radio Wiltshire - including phone-ins from local farmers BBC Radio Jersey - 10,000 listeners. BBC Radio Guernsey - 6,000 listeners. BBC Radio Lancashire - 164,000 listeners (weekly) - including phone-ins from local farmers. BBC Radio Oxford - 21,000 listeners. BBC Radio Devon - 67,000 listeners - including phone-ins from local farmers and the local MP, Neil Parish |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | BBC Look North interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In February 2021, Ruth Little appeared on BBC Look North to talk about the aims of the farming mental health project. BBC Look North may reach around 1 million viewers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | BBC South Today |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In February 2021 David Rose spoke to BBC South Today about the farming mental health project, a segment that also featured views from a local farmer. Station reach 229,000. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | David spoke to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy for an article on rural mental health. Their website has a theoretical reach of 60,000 people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/bacp-workplace/july-2021/farming-counts-the-cost-of-covid-19/ |
| Description | Chronicle Live article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Chronicle Live article on our findings. 2021 figures - More than 4.5 million people - including almost 1m North Easterners - visited the website in September, latest figures show. In October, more than 36 million page views were recorded on the site. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/mental-health-farmers-overhaul-study-25701138 |
| Description | Conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Conference presentation at ESRS 2022 in Birnam, Scotland, to around 30 academics and post-graduate rural sociologists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Cornish Times article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In March 2022, The Cornish Times, in their print version, featured an article on the outcomes of our Landscapes of Support for Farming Mental Health project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Environment Agency visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Cranfield University, and Dr David Rose in particular, organised an away day for 25 Agriculture Offices (from all over the UK) from the Environment Agency. As part of this day, David ran a one-hour workshop on farmer mental health, which included a discussion and the showing of a video. The Environment Agency staff requested this video to use in training and requested further input from David Rose. The Environment Agency are putting in plans to do more mental health awareness training as a result of the workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Farmers Guardian article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Farmers Guardian ran an article showcasing the findings of the farming mental health project. 26,232 readers per circulation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.fginsight.com/news/mental-health-services-need-rural-proofing-132495 |
| Description | Farmers Guardian article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Farmers Guardian ran an article showcasing the aims of the farming mental health project. 26,232 readers per circulation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.fginsight.com/news/new-research-project-to-explore-impact-of-covid-19-on-farmers-mental-... |
| Description | Farmers Guardian letter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A letter from David Rose was published in the Farmers Guardian to ask farmers to fill in the project survey. 26,000 circulation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Farmers Weekly article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 180,000 readers per issue. Article showing the findings of our research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/health-and-wellbeing/rural-charities-left-to-cope-with-mental-health... |
| Description | Farmers Weekly article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two articles. Firstly, a letter in November 2021 published by David Rose to update readers on interim findings. Full findings in an article in February 2022. 180,000 readers per issue. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/health-and-wellbeing/covid-is-tip-of-the-iceberg-for-farm-mental-hea... |
| Description | Farmers Weekly podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two interviews on the Farmers Weekly podcast - David Rose February 2021 and November 2021 to discuss project aims and to provide interim findings to boost engagement with the farmer survey. Listener numbers are not available, but the Farmers Weekly say 'thousands' of people download the podcasts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Farmers Weeky article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Farmers Weekly wrote an article profiling the farming mental health project and asking for respondents to our survey. 179,341 reach per issue. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/business-management/health-and-safety/appeal-to-improve-support-for-f... |
| Description | Farming Today interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | BBC Radio 4 Farming Today interview, Friday 9th December 2022 - interview centred around our Sociologia Ruralis paper providing recommendations on how to improve landscapes of support for farming mental health. Perhaps up to 1 million listeners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001fwkn |
| Description | Farming Today interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Three separate appearances on BBC Radio 4 Farming Today. Farming Today has around 1 million listeners per day. All appearances sparked interest from other media and also some letters and emails from members of the public and the farming community. Some letters from the farming community thanked us for raising the issue and third sector organisations (e.g. mental health charities) said they had heard the broadcasts. 18th February 2021 - Matt Lobley spoke about the aims of the project 6th December 2021 - Ruth Little spoke about post-Brexit policy uncertainty, including impacts on mental health 16th February 2022 - David Rose spoke about the interim findings of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Farming UK article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | FarmingUK, which boasts of a reach of 300,000 people, published an article showcasing our findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.farminguk.com/news/mental-health-support-for-farmers-needs-radical-overhaul-_61713.html |
| Description | FarmingUK article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | FarmingUK, which boasts of a reach of 300,000 people, published an article showcasing the aims of the project in February 2021. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.farminguk.com/news/covid-19-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-for-farmers-mental-health_59864.html |
| Description | Greatest Hits Radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | David Rose spoke to the Greatest Hits Radio network several times about the project in February 2021 (aims), November 2021 (interim findings) and February 2022 (findings). This was broadcast on a number of Greatest Hits Radio stations including: GHR West Norfolk GHR Norfolk and North Suffolk GHR Ipswich and Suffolk Hits Suffolk CFM Cumbria Leeds Hallam, Sheffield GHR Devon & Plymouth Pirate, Cornwall |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Greatest Hits Radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview on Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire and North Hampshire, also accompanied by an online blog |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/berkshire-north-hampshire/news/rural-mental-health-study-uni... |
| Description | Health and Wellbeing at Work talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In March 2022, David Rose was due to give a recorded talk at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference held at the NEC in a special session devoted to farming mental health. This was cancelled due to a technical problem, but the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, who organised the session, are putting the link on their website (theoretical reach of 60,000) and also sending it directly to session attendees (100 delegates). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Herald Wales article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Herald Wales article on our findings |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.herald.wales/national-news/farming/mental-health-support-for-farmers-needs-radical-overh... |
| Description | Hort Week article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Hort Week ran an article on David's (and others') appearance in front of the EFRA Committee inquiry into rural mental health. Horticulture Week boasts of readers totalling around one million. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.hortweek.com/mps-hear-experts-rural-mental-health/fresh-produce/article/1749347 |
| Description | IAgrM Mid-Anglia talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A talk on farmer behaviour change for 15 members of the mid-Anglia branch of IAgrM. My talk touched on some of the Johne's work and mental health work we are doing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | ICAEW talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In December 2021, David gave a virtual talk to the The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Just less than 100 people registered for this talk. He spoke about post-Brexit policy changes and stresses to farming mental health and how farm accountants could support farmers struggling with their mental health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | IFAD podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | David Rose appeared on the podcast of the International Fund for Agricultural Development to talk about the aims of the farming mental health project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/-/farming-covid-and-farmers-mental-health-episode-19 |
| Description | ITV Calendar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In February 2021, Matt Lobley spoke to ITV Calendar about the aims of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | NI Agri-Rural Health Forum talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In December 2021, David spoke to around 20 members of the new Northern Ireland Agri-Rural Health Forum. This brought together policy-makers, supporters, and practitioners interested in supporting farming mental health in Northern Ireland. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | North Devon Gazette article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In March 2022, The North Devon Gazette today featured our work on farming mental health. c 31,000 households circulation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/covid-tip-of-iceberg-for-farmer-mental-health-8697338 |
| Description | Online article FPC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An article on our mental health research published by FPC Fresh Talk Daily providing daily news to the fresh produce industry |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.fpcfreshtalkdaily.co.uk/single-post/mental-health-support-for-farmers-needs-radical-over... |
| Description | Online documentary farming mental health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Filmed in April 2022, I appeared in a documentary by City University students on farming mental health in Wales. This was shortlisted for student journalism awards. The documentary has since been shared online and received many shares on LinkedIn and Social Media and is likely to have a wide consumption. I spoke about our ESRC project on farming mental health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/715298158 |
| Description | Parliamentary evidence submission (written and oral) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In January 2022, the farming mental health project team submitted written evidence to the EFRA Select Committee inquiry into rural mental health. In March 2022, David Rose gave oral evidence to the inquiry. Impact of these engagements will be updated in due course. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://research.reading.ac.uk/landscapes-of-support/wp-content/uploads/sites/204/2022/01/Reading_ev... |
| Description | Policy brief |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A policy brief was written to summarise interim findings from the farming mental health project. 34 downloads of the policy brief from the website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://research.reading.ac.uk/landscapes-of-support/wp-content/uploads/sites/204/2022/01/Brief.pdf |
| Description | Policy workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In February 2022, we held an online policy workshop with attendees from all devolved administrations (DAERA, DEFRA, Scottish and Welsh Government), including the Chair of the EFRA Select Committee (Neil Parish MP) plus committee clerk and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Wales, Lynne Neagle MP. We had representatives from the farming industry from across the UK (e.g. NFU, FUW), mental health charities, healthcare professionals, academics, and chaplains in attendance. Over 50 people attended this event. Neil Parish MP gave the following quote and asked us to submit a summary of the workshop to his Committee's parliamentary inquiry into rural mental health (David Rose giving evidence 15th March). Neil Parish MP, Chair or the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee who attended the presentation of the research said: "I'm glad to be attending this workshop tackling mental health issues in rural communities. Farmers and others in these communities often face stress caused by isolation, insecure incomes and unpredictable weather. "My parliamentary committee has launched an inquiry into rural mental health and I'm hoping we'll learn valuable lessons from the 'Landscapes' project. "Expert research into this issue from the 'Landscapes' team and others will help inform the recommendations we'll eventually make to the Government about how its support to rural communities on mental health matters can be improved." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2022/Research-News/Farming-Mental-Health-Covid |
| Description | Project videos |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A series of project videos were filmed to inform people about the project. Figures correct as of 13/03/22. David Rose interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnm7u3mB0M (96 views) Project outline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhCynEJxDYE (42 views) Matt Lobley interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqIlu0Dw83M (10 views, new video) Jilly Hall interview (new video) - |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnm7u3mB0M |
| Description | Project website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The project website can be found here https://research.reading.ac.uk/landscapes-of-support/ 16th March 2021 to 15th March 2022 web stats are as follows: Number of (page) views - 1,512 Number of countries - 30 Number of downloads of the policy brief - 34 of Brief.pdf (55 downloads in total including 17 of Reading_evidence.pdf and 4 of Mental-health-powerpoint_compressed.pdf) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://research.reading.ac.uk/landscapes-of-support/ |
| Description | Reading Chronicle article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In January 2022, The Reading Chronicle published an article about the results of our project on farming mental health. They also interviewed a local farmer and local College lead about the pressures faced by Berkshire farmers during COVID-19. 7,000 readers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19866866.help-berkshire-farmers-improve-mental-health/ |
| Description | S4C TV documentary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The programme Y Byd ar Bedwar devoted a whole documentary to farming mental health, in which David Rose was interviewed. In 2020/21, S4C's weekly reach increased from 306k to 321k (five per cent) and the weekly reach outside of Wales from 396k to 502k (27 per cent). The S4C documentary team are planning a follow up and are interested in hearing about our final findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-11-17/things-need-to-change-grieving-parents-who-lost-son-call-f... |
| Description | Special issue launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A launch event for our special issue of Sociologia Ruralis on farming wellbeing. Speakers from New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK. Attendees from all over the world - 105 registrations, c50 attending live, but all were sent the recording and slides. Attendees were policy-makers from the devolved administrations and Ireland, mental health charities, academics, and farm industry groups. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/farmer-wellbeing-launch-of-special-journal-issue-tickets-484521927127 |
| Description | Teagasc presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Rose gave a keynote presentation at Teagasc headquarters in Ireland in May 2022 to around 30 participants - fellow academics, post-grad students, Teagasc advisers, farming organisations, and policy-makers. He presented the findings from the mental health project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The Conversation article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An article was written on farming mental health, showcasing the project's findings. 3,689 views (13/03/22). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/covid-fallout-hit-farmers-hard-they-need-better-mental-health-support-17... |
| Description | The Grocer article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Grocer featured our farming mental health project in an article on burnout in the farming sector. An average of 512,630 unique monthly users*; 44,863 Daily Newsletter recipients*; An average of 976,267 monthly page views*. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/the-grocer-blog-daily-bread/burnout-how-is-food-and-drink-dealing-with-t... |
| Description | The Guardian article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Ruth Little spoke to The Guardian on the challenges faced by farmers, including poor mental health at a time of intense policy uncertainty. 3.5 million readers per day for Guardian online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/22/the-hidden-life-of-a-farmer-playful-cows-imperious-s... |
| Description | Times Radio interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In February 2022, David Rose appeared on Times Radio to talk about the project findings. 637,000 listeners (weekly). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Wokingham Today article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Wokingham Today ran a story based on our research into farming mental health and included quotes from the project team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://wokingham.today/covid-only-the-tip-of-iceberg-for-farmer-mental-health-reports-university-of... |
| Description | Yellow Wellies blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Blog on Yellow Wellies talking about our mental health research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.yellowwellies.org/give-landscapes-of-support/ |