Farmers in Europe Reach a Mental Health Crisis Point, Struggling to Cope with Stressors
European farmers are facing a mental health crisis, with the combined pressures of climate change and economic hardship taking a toll on their well-being. The mental health of farmers is significantly affected by economic uncertainty, climate-related disasters, unfair trading practices, and social isolation, leading to increased incidences of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
In Spain, almost half of the territory is dedicated to agriculture, but 75% of the country's land is at risk of desertification due to irregular rains, a significant increase in temperature, and mistreatment of soils and forests. The Mediterranean region, including Spain, is one of the biggest losers when it comes to climate change, according to Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, a professor of Environmental Science and Policy.
The European Commission has acknowledged the seriousness of this issue and has taken several measures to address it. The European Parliament has emphasised the need to focus on mental health challenges in rural areas, including farmers, by improving access to specialized mental health services. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms for 2023-27 include provisions for social conditionality, meaning EU Member States must integrate social and mental health considerations into agricultural funding and policies.
Moreover, efforts have been made to allow more flexibility in environmental conditionality rules to reduce undue burdens on farmers, aiming to alleviate part of the stress related to stringent regulations. The EU also enforces directives against unfair trading practices that harm farmers’ income stability and mental well-being. An ongoing strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture includes understanding and mitigating mental health risks in farming communities.
However, the mental health effects of climate change are not limited to farmers in Spain. In Romania, for instance, 2.8 million farmers, most of whom live in poverty, are struggling under the weight of economic hardship and climate change. Over half of poor households in Romania are engaged in farming, and the country's agricultural output makes it a major EU producer. Yet, only 2.26% of farmers in Romania obtained rural development funds in the last financial period.
Daniela Dîrîngă, a farmer in Romania, has faced extreme droughts, delayed subsidies, high input costs, and collapsing grain prices. Ignacio Rojas, a 46-year-old olive oil, cereal, and pistachio producer in Jaén, Spain, harvested only a third of his usual yield in 2023, causing him anxiety and financial stress. In Greece, almost 50,000 hectares of land have remained underwater since the flooding in September 2023, and farmers like Maria Vardouli, a 30-year-old female farmer in Thessaly, are experiencing extreme stress and psychosomatic disorders due to the destruction of their fields.
The mental health crisis in European agriculture is not just a challenge for individual farmers, but for entire rural communities. Efforts to address the mental health effects of climate change more broadly—in healthcare and community support—include implementing trauma-informed care, community-based innovations, and nature-based therapies as part of public health strategies.
Governments in Europe are aware of the seriousness of this issue and have taken several measures to address it. However, ongoing efforts and innovations are needed to fully protect and promote mental health in these vulnerable rural communities.
- Scientific research aimed at mental-health interventions in agricultural communities could potentially benefit farmers in Spain, Romania, and Greece, given the significant mental stress they face due to climate change and economic hardship.
- To combat climate change's impact on farmers' mental health, environmental-science initiatives that focus on sustainable farming practices, such as maintaining soil health, promoting biodiversity, and addressing desertification, could play a crucial role in reducing stress by improving economic stability and fostering a more resilient farming environment.
