We are lucky to have a wide range of charities and farm & rural support groups working in this area and this section contains the details of some national and regional charities and support groups that you can call on in times of need.

 What if they’re not okay?

Suicide is preventable If you, or someone you are with, feels overwhelmed by thoughts of not wanting to live or having urges to attempt suicide, please seek help NOW

When someone chooses to open up to you, they are showing incredible courage and trust. How you respond in that moment can mean everything. You don’t need to have all the answers or ‘fix’ the situation; what matters is showing them that they are not alone, that their pain is valid, and that help is out there.

If you are worried about someone who is thinking of suicide, you can encourage them to call a suicide hotline:

• Samaritans            116 123 (available 24/7)

• NHS Emergency     999 (available 24/7)

• HOPELINE247          0800 068 4141 (available 24/7)

NORTHERN IRELAND  

Rural Support  0800 138 1678 Mon–Fri 9am -9pm www.ruralsupport.org.uk 

Rural Support provides impartial guidance for farmers and farm family members in Northern Ireland to support their farm business and personal wellbeing. A support line provides a listening and signposting service for farmers and farming families and the charity also provides programmes, mentoring, and advice on a wide range of issues including financial issues, mental health concerns and succession planning.

SCOTLAND

RSABI – 0808 1234 555 Available 24/7 www.rsabi.org.uk 

RSABI provides emotional, practical and financial support to individuals and their families across the agricultural sector in Scotland including farming and crofting. The RSABI helpline is available 24/7 with webchat also available via the website – also 24/7.

WALES

The DPJ Foundation – 0800 587 4262  TEXT 07860 048 799 Available 24/7 www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk  

The DPJ Foundation provides support to those who work in the agricultural sector with a 24hr call line for support and access to fully funded counselling across Wales.

Tir Dewi – 0800 121 4722 Available 24/7 www.tirdewi.co.uk

Tir Dewi’s volunteers work with farmers and their families to help make sense of problems, provide practical support and solutions and partner with other organisations where it would be helpful. A Freephone Helpline is available and volunteers can visit farms to spend time getting to understand the issues and provide the support needed.

ISLE OF MAN

ISLE Listen – 01624 679118 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm www.islelisten.im

Isle Listen supports children and young people up to the age of 25 through education and one-to-one therapeutic support. They also provide a suite of wellbeing solutions to businesses and community groups to support a variety of issues including mental health training, an employee counselling service and workplace wellbeing audits. Isle Listen is not a crisis service and only offer planned interventions. In emergencies contact Manx Care’s 24-hour Crisis Response and Home Treatment Team on 01624 642860 or 999

ENGLAND & WALES

Addington Fund – 01926 620135 Mon–Fri 9am– 5pm  www.addingtonfund.org.uk 

The Addington Fund is a long‑established UK farming charity that supports rural communities by offering affordable housing, emergency relief, and opportunities for new entrants to farming. The Fund offers safe, suitable homes for farmers and farmworkers who must leave their farm, helping them remain within their communities and maintains a stock of properties rented at affordable rates. It also provides emergency assistance during crises such as severe weather or animal disease outbreaks, delivering practical help and grants to safeguard livestock and support business continuity. Its New Entrant Scheme helps younger farmers by offering small grants and starter‑farm opportunities to people beginning their farming careers.

FCN The Farming Community Network – 03000 111 999 Daily 7am -11pm www.fcn.org.uk

FCN provides practical and pastoral support to farmers and their families through difficult times. Established in 1995, their national helpline provides free, confidential support to anyone who seeks help and their website contains some valuable resources to improve farming resilience.

RABI – 0800 188 4444 Available 24/7 www.rabi.org.uk

RABI offer practical, financial, and emotional support to farming people. Among the many professional services offered, RABI provide counselling support, mental health training and an online Click and Chat mental wellbeing service. Since 2021, RABI has partnered with the UK’s leading provider of online mental health support, offering two platforms: Kooth for young people aged 11 to 17, and Qwell for adults aged 18+.

To find additional farming charities and regional rural support groups in your area consult our Little Book of Minding Your Head  CLICK HERE