Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week, from 12 to 18 May, shines a light on the importance of looking after our mental well-being and encourages people to prioritise their mental well-being. While awareness is growing, many people still struggle to recognise when they need help or how to support others who might be struggling.

Mental health problems can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or profession. At RSPCA Assured, we are aware that in the agricultural community, workers can face unique daily challenges and spend many hours alone. They can also find it hard to switch off from their jobs, as they may live on-site and often their animals need round the clock care. 

Reaching out and finding the right support can make all the difference.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Being there to listen: Rio’s story 

We spoke to one of our assessors, Rio, who has recently begun volunteering for the Farming Community Network (FCN) helpline to support farmers and agriculture workers. She tells us about what she has learnt in her first six months volunteering and the importance of being a good listener. 

Call: 03000 111 999 from 7am to 11pm, 365 days a year or email help@fcn.org.uk

Rio said: 

It’s been such a fantastic experience for me to be part of the FCN volunteer team, and it’s helped me have a greater understanding of mental health in my daily life, as well as being able to help others.

I have learnt so much already - I’m a very proactive person and I like to get things done. But a key thing I have learnt is that so many people who call us just want to talk. It sounds so simple, but so often all you have to do is listen.

I was speaking to one person on what turned out to be quite a long call - maybe over an hour …or two! At the end of the conversation, they simply said, “Thank you so much for listening. No one ever listens to me in my normal life.’ It struck me as such a powerful thing to be able to offer.

That’s not to say that FCN doesn’t offer a lot of ongoing support and assistance. If there is practical help and guidance that people need, with permission, I can pass them on to FCN case workers either locally or further afield who can provide additional support.

Assessment skills and volunteering skills 

I know it’s not the same thing, but I have also realised that the skills I use in my day job of being an RSPCA Assured farm assessor are not too different from the skills needed to be a good FCN volunteer. I need to be understanding and empathic in my job and to build relationships with our member farmers. I am lucky that the member farmers I speak to care about their animals and work hard to keep to the RSPCA’s higher welfare standards, but they will also face challenges, as that is the life of a farmer! Being there to listen and understand what they are experiencing is an important part of what I do. I think being interested in people is vitally important for both roles.

It’s useful that when I am volunteering on the FCN helpline that I have such an in-depth knowledge of farming and understand the issues facing the industry. This helps the callers to trust that I know the community they work in.

We all have similar worries

Despite having a specialist understanding of the farming industry, I am learning that often the issues our callers face are just the same as everyone else - problems with relationships, illness, financial worries or legal issues. 

We deal with all levels of issues, from people in personal crisis to those calling on behalf of others. For instance, we are helping someone at the moment whose partner has cancer and signposting them to support that is available and being there for them. We also have quite a few regular callers who just want to talk to someone who will listen with kindness and without judgment.

Worries can really build up, and people might feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Sharing their situation with someone can really help. I had a caller the other day who was sitting in a tractor in a remote part of the UK. We had a good conversation, and they were able to get a lot of problems off their chest. We then ended up discussing some beautiful wildlife that they could see from the tractor cab. When the call finished, they thanked me and said they felt so much happier. This makes me feel good as I know I am doing something to help relieve some of the pressure people can feel under.

Volunteering helps me too

When I tell people I volunteer in my spare time, they sometimes laugh at me as I have a baby, two dogs and a pretty full-on job! But it’s something I am so glad I do, as it gives a lot back to me as well. FCN has been incredibly supportive to me as a volunteer, I would say their pastoral care for me has been second to none. The training was very organised and I felt prepared for all the different types of calls I might receive. Everyone has gone above and beyond to make sure I feel comfortable and not under any pressure to take on too much; there is always back-up help available, too.

The idea to volunteer for FCN came when I visited a member farm for RSPCA Assured, and the farmer told me their mother was in the house taking calls for the FCN helpline. I had been having a bit of a difficult time personally following a family bereavement, and I thought that helping others to feel better might help me to feel better too. 

This volunteering role is very important to me now, and I am so glad I took this step. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Princess of Wales’ Christmas Carol concert last year to recognise people who support, counsel and comfort people in need. Speaking to so many inspiring people made me think about how important this work is and how it touches lives in ways we won’t always realise.

Support available for farmers

  • FCN (Farming Community Network) - Pastoral and practical assistance for anyone in the farming community, particularly farmers and farming families. The helpline 03000 111 999 is available from 7 am - 11 pm and will be answered in person 365 days a year, or you can email help@fcn.org.uk.
  • You Are Not Alone, the YANA Project - rural mental health support - Confidential support, mental health awareness and funding for counselling for those in farming and rural trades in Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcestershire. They also have a directory of regional support groups and key national charities which can specifically help those in rural communities.
  • The DJP Foundation - mental health support covering rural communities in Wales.

General mental health support

World Mental Health Week: 12 to 18 May 2025

World Mental Health Week aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and help people find the support they need when facing challenges.  

What is mental health?

The Mental Health Foundation describes mental health as: “…the way we think and feel and our ability to deal with the ups and downs of life. We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health”. 

They have a free guide and suggest 10 tips for helping mental health at work:

  1. Talk about your feelings
  2. Be mindful of your activity levels - move regularly
  3. Eat well
  4. Drink sensibly
  5. Manage your relationships
  1. Ask for help
  2. Take a break
  3. Do something you're good at
  4. Accept who you are
  5. Care for others.

About the author

Jodie - Website Manager

Jodie is RSPCA Assured's Website Manager. 

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