Supporting Mental Health in Rural Communities

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the unique challenges being faced by farmers and the wider agricultural industry as a result of vast input cost inflation caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, among other factors; commends farmers and crofters for the role that it considers they play at the heart of rural communities, producing high-quality sustainable food, supporting thousands of jobs, helping to tackle climate change and enhancing biodiversity, despite the pressures that they face; understands that these pressures contribute to concerns around the mental health of farmers and crofters in Scotland, including in the Scottish Borders; notes the work of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland in working with its members to protect the physical and mental wellbeing of all those working and living in farming communities, and highlighting the issue of mental health in farming, agriculture and countryside management more widely; recognises the work of the Countryside Alliance, the Mental Health Foundation Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, the National Rural Mental Health Forum and the Poverty Alliance, among others, in also highlighting such issues and working towards finding solutions, and notes the calls encouraging those who are struggling with their mental health to access help and support from either their friends or family, or the many services available, including RSABI.