New research explores the emotional toll of supporting the farming community

A new study led by researchers at the School of Geography and Planning has shed light on a rarely explored aspect of rural life: the emotional wellbeing of those who support farmers.

While recent years have seen growing recognition of the mental health challenges faced by farmers, this research – led by Rachael Aka and Professor Gareth Enticott – is among the first to examine how that emotional strain also affects the people who provide support, many of whom are volunteers.

Published in the Journal of Rural Studies, the paper explores how individuals working in farming support organisations – including chaplains, charity workers and volunteers – cope with the emotional demands of their roles.

These support workers, often drawn to farming work out of compassion and community connection, navigate difficult conversations, loss, and crises in the agricultural sector, all while managing their own emotional wellbeing.

Using creative and visual methods, including participant photography and interviews, the researchers invited participants to capture their daily lives and reflect on what helps them manage the emotional challenges of their work.

The resulting "lifescapes" – personal geographies built from routines, places, animals, and relationships – reveal the quiet but powerful ways people care for themselves while caring for others.

Key themes that emerged included the importance of daily routines, the comfort of home and place, the emotional support of animals, and the deep value placed on faith, family, and community ties.

Rachael Aka said: “Volunteers are a vital but often overlooked part of the landscape of support for farmers. They offer emotional care, time, and presence in ways that are rooted in community, compassion, and servanthood. This research sought to recognise and value that work — not just what volunteers give, but what sustains them in return. Through creative and co-produced methods, we were able to explore the quiet routines, places, relationships, and beliefs that form their own ‘lifescapes’ of support.

“I’m especially grateful to my supervisor, Professor Gareth Enticott, whose encouragement and insight have been instrumental throughout this research and my continuing PhD journey — working alongside volunteers to better understand the vital support they offer.”

The study also calls for greater use of creative methods in rural wellbeing research, offering a more ethical and collaborative approach to understanding emotional experiences in agricultural communities.

The research was funded by the ESRC through the Wales Doctoral Training Partnership.