This week the Farm Safety Foundation is promoting their “Mind Your Head” campaign, for the 8th successive year, talking about mental health in farming, in promoting suicide prevention. The Yellow Welly campaigners came to Parliament to talk to MPs about the importance of the campaign, to increase awareness and of their mission to make a meaningful impact in farming communities.
Farming is not just a profession, it is a way of life, but it can take its toll. Often it is lonely and unrelenting, with long hours, physical graft, and a culture of “just get on with it”. 23 farm workers lost their lives at work last year and there were 47 suicides registered in 2024 among the farming and agricultural industry in England and Wales. 75% of suicides in the UK are male, and this is an issue we have to be brave enough to talk about.
That is why I have attended a number of events over recent weeks, from the Samaritans’ Brew Monday, through the Body and Soul event last week, and this week I have been wearing my Yellow Welly badge in the Chair. If it provokes just one conversation it will have played a tiny role in de-stigmatising mental health.
On Thursday I travelled back to the constituency to take part in a visit hosted by Sesanti at Weyhill, with the APPG for defence and security. Sesanti has an exceptional track record delivering high-performance surveillance systems across the globe. It is always fascinating to visit local companies, making a vital contribution to the defence sector and, of course, providing high quality local jobs.
Finally, last weekend’s 5 Choirs concert in the Abbey was absolutely spectacular, and I would like to express my thanks to all involved. I never fail to wonder at the commitment of Marion and Chris Maxey who have done so much to bring music and performance to children in the community, but also of course to the Male Voice Choir and Romsey Voices who are “slightly” older. The concert celebrated the 175th Birthday of Romsey Abbey Primary School, its enduring links to the Abbey, and I certainly still reflect on my time at the school very fondly.
