Initiative is using virtual reality to raise awareness among policymakers
An upcoming event at the House of Lords is aiming to bring policymakers, health and agricultural leaders face to face with the realities of the mental health crisis in UK agriculture.
It follows the launch last month of the Rural Minds project, which uses Virtual Reality (VR) to raise awareness and understanding of mental health in farming communities. The project uses immersive VR storytelling to highlight the lived experiences of farmers and rural workers.
The event on 12 November has been organised by Dr Jordan Tsigarides from Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia, and Suffolk GP Dr Richard West - co-creators of Rural Minds – together with Baroness Anne McIntosh of Pickering, Conservative Party member of the House of Lords, and chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.
A range of politicians, agricultural and healthcare leaders have been invited to the event. The aim is to shine a light on the project and encourage relevant policy change to support agricultural mental health. There will also be VR headsets available to try.
Tsigarides said: “By sharing lived experiences through virtual reality, we aim to highlight how isolation, financial strain, generational pressures and stigma continue to impact the wellbeing of farmers.
“We hope this event at the House of Lords will act as a springboard for national discussion on how agricultural and rural mental health can be better supported through coordinated policy, including the government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2023–2028), Defra’s Future Farming Resilience Programme, and initiatives within the UK Food Strategy and NHS Long Term Plan that touch on rural health inequalities.
“Our goal is to ensure that the unique needs of farming and rural communities are fully recognised within these frameworks, particularly around early intervention, access to mental health support, and education for healthcare professionals working with agricultural populations.
“In the longer term, we hope Rural Minds will inform cross-departmental thinking between Defra, DHSC, and NHS England to help reduce suicide risk and improve mental wellbeing in rural areas.”
