Young Farmer Backs Mental Health Campaign

A young farmer from near Market Harborough is backing a new campaign to make people more aware of the mental health challenges facing those working in the industry.

Vickie Gillespie, who works on the family livestock farm, is supporting the Farm Safety Foundation’s “Mind Your head” Campaign, encouraging farmers to reach out for help.

Also known as ‘Yellow Wellies’, the group has revealed there were 133 suicides within the agricultural community in England, Wales and Scotland last year and a new study shows 88% of farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as their biggest hidden problem.

The farming industry faces many stress factors, which are placing increased pressure on workers and putting them at greater risk of mental ill health and during the last year, the coronavirus pandemic has increased the mental health effects on farmers and could continue long after the virus has gone.

Vickie, 31, who used to be a beautician before a career change to join the family business, has first-hand experience from when her Dad, Andy, was struggling with his mental health and the stigma attached to it.

She has spoken to Hfm to raise awareness:

Vickie, a former Robert Smyth Academy student, promotes the campaign on her Instagram account entitled ‘faketannedfarmer’ HERE

For more details on the Mind Your Head campaign click HERE

Vickie & Andy Gillespie

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