Ploughing through barriers: Understanding the challenges and promoting help-seeking in farming communities
Download (PDF 7.27 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch North Yorkshire wanted to understand the key health and wellbeing issues affecting the farming community in North Yorkshire and the barriers they faced in getting help. They undertook a survey and phone interviews, reaching 220 people.
The top three health and wellbeing issues raised were identified:
- 74% had experienced back, joint, knee, shoulder or muscle pain
- 42% had experienced stress & anxiety
- 31% had experienced sleep problems
Key barriers included:
- Time constraints due to farming responsibilities
- The cost of taking time off
- Difficulties arranging and attending appointments
- Access issues in rural areas
- Concerns over gun licences being revoked
- Lack of awareness about available services
- Limited health knowledge
- Fear and anxiety about using services
- Stigma about seeking help
- Reluctance to burden the system
- Perception that health professionals do not understand farming
- A preference for consulting vets over GPs
- Concerns over confidentiality
- Belief that farming comes before health
The report contains nine recommendations about:
- bringing services to the farming community
- Ongoing support through community based approaches
- Improving communication and awareness
- Use trusted professionals working within the farming community
- Improve accessibility and trust