Ahead of the upcoming Federal Budget and the federal election, a coalition of over 30 rural and health organizations is urging the Federal Government to invest $50 million over the next five years to address mental health issues in the agricultural sector.
The push for increased funding is rooted in the findings of the National Farmer Wellbeing Report, launched by the Norco co-operative and the National Farmers Federation in 2023. The report highlighted the severe mental health challenges faced by farmers, particularly in rural areas, where stressors like natural disasters, financial pressures, and isolation contribute to the mental health crisis.
Michael Hampson, CEO of Norco, emphasized the urgency of addressing these concerns: “We knew that farmer mental health was an important area of focus that needed much greater attention,” he said, describing the data as “incredibly confronting.” Hampson also noted the need for a holistic, industry-wide approach to supporting farmers and their wellbeing.
The initiative is particularly focused on the northern New South Wales and southern Queensland regions, where natural disasters and weather-related challenges have exacerbated the mental health struggles of local farmers. Hampson remarked, “The welfare of our farmers needs a whole-of-industry and government approach if they are to be addressed in a truly meaningful way.”
Tim Driscoll, state manager of mental health at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland and chair of the initiative’s steering committee, pointed out the alarming statistics: “A farmer dies by suicide every 10 days; that’s up to twice the rate of the general working population.” He stressed that poor mental health in agriculture is often driven by compounding factors like financial strain, geographic isolation, and the unpredictability of weather events.
David Jochinke, president of the National Farmers Federation, underscored the importance of supporting the mental health of farmers, stating, “A farmer’s greatest asset isn’t their land, livestock, or produce, it’s their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the people around them.”
Clinical psychologist and founder of ifarmwell, Kate Gunn, highlighted the critical need for evidence-based, farmer-friendly mental health services. She called for immediate government intervention, noting that while the philanthropic sector has offered support, only government funding can scale up initiatives to reach farmers nationwide.
The proposal for increased funding was shaped through the National Forum on Mental Health and Wellbeing in Agriculture in March 2024, with a steering committee led by the National Farmers Federation. The coalition hopes the Federal Government will provide the necessary investment to make a meaningful difference in the mental health of Australia’s farming communities.
