Agenda ONekin!

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on mental health challenges in diverse rural EU regions, with a particular emphasis on farmers, who play a pivotal role in bolstering the resilience of these regions. Farmers’ mental health can be impacted by several factors, including long working hours, geographical and social isolation, financial uncertainty. Such issues are exacerbated by economic challenges, climate concerns, and increased scrutiny on the farming profession. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, with the related surge in energy, feed, and fertiliser prices, have added further pressure.Recent studies in several EU countries underscore the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support for the farming community that take into account the unique challenges of rural life and the specific issues faced by those in the farming profession. On the other hand, access to mental health care for farmers presents significant barriers also due to societal perceptions and a stigma that seeking external help might be inappropriate.This was the first meeting of the Thematic Group (TG) onSupporting the Mental Health of Farmers and Farming Communities, which aims to identify the most important, urgent and achievable goals to foster the mental health and well-being of farming communities, particularly farmers.