Consultancy teams up with rural mental health charity

Farm business consultant Savills has teamed up with rural charity You Are Not Alone (YANA) to highlight the importance of looking after your wellbeing.

Agricultural advisors and consultants in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk are handing out leaflets and other materials – including car stickers and an air freshener to keep in tractor cabs – as part of their regular client visits.

Matt Riddington, part of the food and farming team at Savills in the East of England, will be taking a two-day mental health first aid course with YANA in July.

He said: “Farming or working in the countryside is usually a good way of life but it is a demanding and stressful occupation. So, it’s not surprising that many people involved with agriculture can feel isolated, depressed or unable to cope as well as normal.

Raising awareness

“YANA does great work across the region and we’re delighted to be raising awareness of such a worthwhile cause. We have already started to hand out the packs and they have been very well received.”

Mr Riddington said the mental health course who enable him to provide further help. “The sector is experiencing significant changes and its imperative that anyone feeling any concerns is able to access the care and support required.”

YANA provides confidential helpline support and funded counselling for people in farming and other rural businesses in East Anglia – building a better understanding and investing in mental health first aid training and suicide prevention.

YANA charity manager Emma Haley said: “One in four people in the UK will experience poor mental health so it is important to know that you, or the person you are concerned about, are not alone.

“Those who work in farming and other rural businesses are often reluctant to seek support for depression, stress or anxiety. But talking about your problems and seeking appropriate help can make it easier to cope and improves your quality of life.”

Anyone worried about themselves or others involved with farming can call the confidential YANA helpline on 0300 323 0400 or email helpline@yanahelp.org. To discover more about YANA, visit www.yanahelp.org.