New documentary puts focus on mental health among British farmers

The feature-length documentary, Under the Soil, takes an unyielding look at mental health in British agriculture, through personal testimony from three people who have all struggled with mental ill-health.

The film features Matt, a farmer who lost half his flock during the cold weather spell nicknamed the Beast from the East; Tony and Tim, a father who tried to take his own life and the son who stopped him; and Emma, whose husband’s mental health struggle led to him taking his own life.

The independent and self-funded film is described as “passion project” by its director, Archie Guinchard.

Both Archie and film editor Alex Edwards, work in film and TV but don’t come from a farming background. Along with the rest of the crew they work outside the sector, which they said provided a “different viewpoint” for those in the industry and the wider public “who are perhaps unaware” of the numerous issues that lead to agriculture consistently having one of the highest suicide rates in the UK.

Archie said the project came about when he left university and found himself working on a few agricultural projects.

“On one particular project, where we were working on some content to help promote British produce to the European market, I got chatting to a farmer and he told me about the issue of mental health in agriculture,” Archie said.

“The following day, on a different farm, the farmer told me two people in the local area he knew had committed suicide. We looked into it and decided we wanted to make a film on the issue.

“We found the people in agriculture have been some of the friendliest people you could meet, and so we wanted to make a film that could have a positive impact.”

Under the Soil has taken three years to complete which Archie said had brought about “no end of challenges” including getting people in the industry to trust the film crew.

But, with support from the National Farmers Union (NFU), Farming Community Network (FCN), the film is completed and ready to be released in the new year.

“It is entirely self-funded and independent,” Archie said.

“The film itself is very much focused on letting the contributors – those who have experienced ill mental health first-hand – speak freely and in their own words.

“The main goal is to encourage a conversation, not only in agriculture but also wider society about what causes farming to have one of the highest suicide rates in the country.

“It is in this hope that the film can have some small but positive impact, offering a small but much-needed window, into the many struggles within agriculture that places farmers under such immense pressure.”

FCN’s Alex Phillimore, said: “Under the Soil provides an important and timely insight into the issue of mental ill-health in British agriculture.

“This year FCN has seen an increase in mental health calls to our national helpline and both isolation and loneliness are real issues in this sector, particularly in a year with many events in the farming calendar being cancelled or postponed.

“We hope Under the Soil will help to raise awareness about this important issue.”

Under the Soil will be released through Amazon on January 4, 2021.

It will be available to rent at £1.49 and to buy at £2.49 online.

FCN’s Farming Help Helpline, which is manned by people who have a background in agriculture is open seven days a week between 7am and 11pm on 03000 111 999 or email: [email protected]

The Samaritans’ helpline 116 123 is available 24 hours a day or email [email protected]

The Yorkshire Rural Support Network, run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, brings together support organisations. Go to yas.co.uk

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