Stressed farmers flood helpline

Thousands of cattle are being burnt at farms across the country

Desperate farmers are inundating a helpline as fears about the impact of foot-and-mouth disease grow.

Experts are afraid that this latest farming crisis could be the last straw for many, leading to an even higher suicide rate in the farming community.

Caroline Davies, director of the Rural Stress Information Network, said their helpline normally gets just a few calls a week - on Monday alone 30 worried farmers called in for help and advice.

Ms Davies, who herself lives on a family farm in Wales, said many farmers calling the line were in tears and worried about how they will cope with this latest blow.

Many of them are breaking down in tears on the telephone

Caroline Davies, director of the Rural Stress Information Network

"Many of them are breaking down in tears on the telephone. Farmers are already worried about BSE and various food crises.

"People are really feeling harried into the ground and this has lots of implications for their health."

Suicide rates

She said farmers are often reluctant to talk about their problems and wait until things get really bad before they call for help.

Suicide rates are high, with 79 farm owners and managers, horticulturists and farm workers in England and Wales killing themselves in 1999.

Ms Davies said there are fears that this latest farming disaster will push even more farmers to the brink.

She said the helpline had received a number of calls from farmer's wives worried about the mental health of their sons and husbands.

"Part of what motivates them to call is the publicity about the high suicide rates. People are afraid they will come home and find that their husband and son have committed suicide," she said.

Practical help

Ms Davies said people are calling their help-line to get practical help and support, to find someone to talk to and to get advice about cash flow problems, and their health.

"When people are in a crisis they shut down. They need someone to talk to and ask for advice.

"These are people who are disorientated, they do not know what to do and have been hit for six.

"They just want to know what to do as they feel they have been frozen in the headlights."

The Rural Stress Information Network, which gives general advice and guidance can be contacted weekdays between 0900 and 1700 on [phone].

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution can give financial assistance to farmers and can be contacted between Monday and Thursday 0900 to 1700 and up to 1630 on Fridays. It can be contacted on [phone].

Farm Crisis Network, which offers practical support for farmers, is open evenings between 1900 and 2200 on [phone].