Desolation in the countryside: How agricultural crime impacts the mental health of British farmers

Abstract

Agricultural crime is increasingly becoming a fact of life for British farmers. While no official figures exist for this type of crime, key rural stakeholders such as insurers publish regular indicators of the level of the problem. However, these figures, and much of the extant academic research focus almost exclusively on the financial impact of agricultural crime. To date, no research has examined how agricultural crime impacts the mental health of farmers. This research is the first to explore not only how agricultural crime impacts the mental health and wellbeing of farmers in Britain, but also how agricultural crime compares to other farming stressors in its impact on the mental health of British farmers. An online survey was designed and administered to reach farmers across Britain to obtain quantitative data, but also qualitative data relating to stressors. The data shows that agricultural crime has a significant impact on farmer mental health, with numerous aspects of crime having a clear association with the experience of a number of mental health indicators. The research concludes that there is a clear research gap regarding crime as a farmer stressor and the direct impact this has on farmer mental health. It is argued that the findings of this research support the need for a wider discussion among key stakeholders to examine how farmers can be better supported to address the crime-related factors that are now known to directly affect farmer mental health. • Agricultural crime has a significant impact on farmers beyond the economic cost • Crime-related impact on family, health, and safety significantly correlate with suicidal thoughts/behaviour • Crime-related anxiety, depression, feelings of isolation, and lost confidence are most often correlated with experiences of general stress • Positive farming service provider experiences significantly reduce crime-related psychological distress