Members from Cheshire Young Farmers' Club met with Chester South and Eddisbury MP Aphra Brandreth (right) and Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner (centre) to discuss mental health in rural and farming communities.
Young farmers from Cheshire have raised awareness of the challenges rural and farming communities face in seeking support for mental health.
Young Farmers' Clubs
Cheshire Young Farmers' Club (CYFC) were invited to meet Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner and Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins on January 15 to discuss the importance of providing mental health provision for farmers.
Mental health
Aphra Brandreth, Chester South and Eddisbury MP, led a debate in the House of Commons last year to discuss ways of improving mental health in farming and agricultural communities.
In particular, she said there must be unified cooperation between all political parties on the issue to ensure farmers working in an extremely challenging industry receive the support they need.
"Farmers have experienced an incredibly tough few years and I was pleased to have the opportunity to raise the need to improve mental health in farming and agricultural communities in a debate in the House of Commons last year," she added.
"I am grateful that the Farming Minister agreed to meet with Young Farmers so they could raise their concerns directly with the Government.
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"I would like to see an integrated, cross-Government approach to tackling the mental health crisis in our rural areas, with farmers placed at its heart.
"My thanks go to Young Farmers for representing our farming communities in Cheshire so well and for making such a passionate case for action.
"Their dedication has ensured these vital issues are firmly on the agenda, and our local Cheshire farmers should be very proud that CYFC are banging the drum for our rural communities."
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Siobhan Rutter, chair of CYFC, said the meeting was significant in allowing the Farming Minister to hear directly from young people about the challenges they face in maintaining healthy wellbeing.
"I was honoured to attend Parliament to discuss mental health in rural communities and the work of our YFC," she said.
"This opportunity to voice our views and have our opinions heard on key issues affecting the sector was a privilege."
Rural isolation
David Smith, MP for North Northumberland, said rural isolation was a significant problem for farmers.
"People living generation after generation in rural communities are proud and resourceful," Mr Smith added.
"Sometimes they perhaps do not reach out for help, but I would encourage them to do that.
"It is always a good thing for someone to reach out for help if they are struggling.
"Rural areas provide so much for the flourishing of the nation as a whole, but they are not receiving enough in return."
