rural minds

A VR educational module focused on mental health and suicide risk in the farming community

ABOUT RURAL MINDS

The Rural Minds Project has been developed by three Suffolk Doctors; Dr Daniel James, Dr Jordan Tsigarides and Dr Richard West and aims to address the growing mental health crisis in the UK’s farming communities. Produced alongside farmers; the project provides education to future doctors about some of the unique challenges faced by patients living in rural areas and the effect of these challenges on mental health.

Poor mental health is a significant concern in agricultural workers; The RABI Big Farming Survey (2021) found that 36% of farmers are ‘probably or possibly’ depressed, 47% report constant anxiety, and only 8% of women and 12% of men describe their mental wellbeing as good. The Farm Safety Foundation reports that 95% of young farmers believe mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing agriculture today.

Poor mental health can have tragic consequences and a great many farming families understand the burden of this on the community; According to the Office for National Statistics, 102 suicides by individuals working in agriculture and related trades were registered in England and Wales in 2019 accounting for 2.2% of all suicides that year. While more recent, detailed data is lacking and figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland remain unpublished research suggests that the elevated suicide risk extends across all parts of the UK.

Rural Minds began with the teams’ observations of the impact of poor mental health on the farmers they met in their daily clinical practice. This sparked a dialogue with community leaders from the Suffolk Agricultural Association, exploring potential solutions to support them. These conversations revealed the cultural stigma, emotional isolation, and systemic barriers that prevent many farmers from seeking timely help.

To address this, the team has developed a unique immersive virtual reality (VR) training module for clinicians. Funded by a generous grant from the Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust the module has been written and produced by doctors, farmers and other experts working together and allows health care workers to step into the shoes of farmers and the professionals who could be called on to support them through times of distress. By building empathy and confidence, Rural Minds aims to improve mental health support and ultimately reduce suicide in farming communities.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understanding/Empathy

  • Explain and understand the prevalence of mental health problems and suicide risk in the farming community

  • Identify and describe the risk factors for mood disorders and suicide that are unique to the farming community

  • Understand the factors which contribute to health inequality in this area.

Diagnosis

  • Describe the role of bystanders/social and family groups in identifying risk of mood disorders and suicide in farm workers

  • Understand the role of primary and secondary care in the diagnosis of mood disorders in farm workers

  • Demonstrate useful communication approaches when discussing symptoms of mood disorders and suicide risk

Management

  • Discuss the role of NHS services in the management of mood disorders and suicide risk in farm workers

  • Discuss the role of the charitable and voluntary sector in the management of mood disorders and suicide risk in farm workers

  • Understand the ethical and legal issues impacting a person with a mood disorder in possession of lethal means (firearms/poisons etc.)

  • List useful resources available to support farm workers and the wider rural community with mood disorders and suicide risk

CONTACT

For further information about accessing Rural Minds, please email: contact@rural-minds.org.uk

For press enquires, please email: hello@revolvelabs.co.uk

acknowledgements

A Project Funded by The Felix Thornley Cobbold Trust – Delivered by Revolve Labs. Working in Partnership with Woolpit Health Centre, The Suffolk Agricultural Association, YANA, The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), and endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Authors: Dr. Daniel James, Dr Aruna Stannard. Reviewers: Dr Jordan Tsigarides, Dr. Richard West

Huge thanks to: Bill Baker – Suffolk Agricultural Association, James Forrest – Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust, Rev. Brynn Bayman – Suffolk Agricultural Association, Emma Haley  - YANA, Dr. Emma Watts - RCGP, Supt. Sally Hammerton – Norfolk Constabulary, Dr Adrian Leddy - UEA, Stephanie Berkeley – Farm Safety Foundation