Mental health and well-being of farmers

SafeHabitus is a Horizon Europe-funded research project that seeks to enhance the working conditions of farmers and farm workers by improving farm safety and farmer health. In addition to undertaking research, project activities involve the organisation of a series of policy discussions. The first policy discussion was organised on 25 January 2024 in the form of a SafeHabitus Policy Seminar on mental health in farming. It brought together EU policymakers, policy stakeholders and researchers to support the development of this policy brief which contains recommendations for enhancing the occupational mental health and well-being of farmers. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers shared their knowledge and experience during the seminar, developing a shared understanding of the challenges and identifying potential actions and solutions for supporting farmer mental health. The research, data and practical first-hand experiences presented during the seminar provided an evidence base upon which to discuss a number of key issues. The following aspects were covered: occupational stressors affecting mental health and well-being, barriers to accessing mental health support, the impact of climate change and financial uncertainty, work-life balance challenges, social isolation and stigma, generational renewal and succession planning, and the need for targeted interventions and policy responses.