Anne Dunn22 July 2026
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Growing optimism in Welsh farming must be matched by continued action on mental health, industry leaders have warned
Speakers at the DPJ Foundation’s 10th anniversary event, Hope, Resilience & The Future of Farming Wellbeing, at the Royal Welsh Show said progress had been made in tackling stigma, but lasting improvements would depend on supportive policy and keeping conversations about mental health alive
DPJ Foundation founder Emma O’Sullivan said attitudes had changed dramatically since she established the charity following the death of her husband Daniel in 2016
“People are now openly having discussions. We are openly at events like this where people come to our stand and will happily be associated with us and discuss and talk with us about their mental wellbeing,” she said
Although more farmers are seeking support, she said charities could not tackle the issue alone
“I strongly believe that the change has to come from the top. Industry decisions have a very direct impact on farmers’ mental health.”
Cautious optimism
Farmers’ Union of Wales president Ian Rickman said the past decade had tested farming businesses through Brexit, agricultural policy reform, bovine TB and increasingly unpredictable weather
Despite those pressures, he believed recent political changes in Wales had brought renewed confidence to the sector
Left to right: the DPJ Foundation panel – Emma O’Sullivan, Ian Rickman, Abi Reader and Ifan Davies © MAG/Anne Dunn
Describing himself as “cautiously optimistic”, he acknowledged that “not everything is right” in agriculture, but said farmers “have to have hope” for the next generation
He also welcomed growing openness around mental health
“The good thing is we’re doing it. We’re talking about it, we’re getting out there, people are listening.”
Lasting change
NFU Cymru president Abi Reader said improving farmer wellbeing required policies that allowed businesses to grow, alongside a cultural shift in how mental health is viewed
“We’ve got to breed it out. We’ve got to get it out of our young stock. We’ve got to make sure that the next generation of young farmers understand, and we’ve got to lead it to say it is ok to say if you are having a bad day.”
She said milking cows provided valuable time to switch off after a difficult week
“If I’ve had a bad week, I can’t wait to get in that milking parlour. There’s no one around. The phone’s not ringing. There are only cows there, and it’s always really peaceful in the mornings.”
Rural affairs chairman for Wales YFC Ifan Davies said spending time with his dogs helped empty his “stress bucket” and encouraged people to leave their problems outside where possible
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