Red Tractor is supporting Yellow Wellies to encourage farmers to seek help
Farming is an industry where resilience is often worn as a badge of honour but it’s important to recognise the impact of poor mental wellbeing. Nobody should have to face their struggles alone. Each of us has a role to play in creating a healthier and more supportive environment to live and work in.
Red Tractor is supporting The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) to encourage farmers to seek help. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of mental health in the farming industry and to reduce the stigma around poor mental health.
Farmer wellbeing levels in decline
Research from the September 2025 Farm Safety and Wellbeing survey reveals a decline in mental wellbeing among British farmers over the age of 40. Wellbeing levels have dropped to the lowest point in four years. The data also highlights a disparity between the overall wellbeing within the farming community, which has been measured against the general population. The shows there is an urgent need for targeted support and intervention.
We cannot farm through mental health struggles
Red Tractor Chair, Alistair Mackintosh says: “We often talk about ‘farming through’ every challenge, be it weather, markets, or disease, but we cannot ‘farm through’ a mental health struggle.
“These latest findings are a sobering wake-up call. It is no longer enough to just work hard, we must work to look out for one another. Admitting things are tough isn’t a failure of character, it’s a necessary step to ensure our farms and our families have a future.
“We owe it to ourselves to speak up before the silence becomes too heavy to carry.”
If you’re struggling, talking to someone can make a big difference. Whether it’s family, friends, or a professional. Reaching out is a sign of strength.
Organisations there for you:
- Farming Community Network (FCN) – Pastoral and practical support, helpline 7am-11pm every day. t: 03000 111 999
- YANA Project – Confidential mental health support and counselling funding in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcestershire. t: 0300 323 0400
- DPJ Foundation – Welsh mental health charity to support those in agriculture with mental health problems. t: 0800 587 4262
- RABI – Financial support for farming families facing hardship. t: 0800 188 4444
- Addington Fund – Housing and hardship grants for farming families in England and Wales. t: 01926 620135
- RSABI (Scotland) – Practical, financial, and emotional support for those in Scottish agriculture. t: 0808 1234 555
- Rural Support (NI) – Provides impartial support and guidance for the farming community in Northern Ireland. t: 0800 138 1678
Support is always available and you are never alone.