Farmers: High Rate of Suicide (Hansard, 25 March 1993)

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, farmers have a strong sense that they are custodians of the land for the next generation, and that brings added pressures. 433 They often work in isolation and are traditionally an independent group of people, which possibly leads to a reluctance to seek help at times of depression or anxiety. In common with a number of other occupation groups which share a high rate of suicide, farmers have easy access to the means to commit it.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Does she agree that the best way to deal with this matter is almost certainly through local initiatives—for example, the scheme which has been devised by Wiltshire County Council which responded to an initiative from the Churches, the Transport and General Workers' Union, the NFU and the CLA to produce 10,000 cards with contact numbers of "farming friends" and a relevant organisation? All the "farming friends" who are available for a friendly chat come from outside the County of Wiltshire, as farmers are often notoriously reluctant to discuss their problems with their neighbours. Do the Government support that initiative and will they encourage its wider use?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, we very much support this initiative. There is a county-by-county campaign run co-operatively among the Samaritans, the National Farmers' Union, the citizens advice bureaux and local organisations. The noble Lord was absolutely correct to say that it is local action that will bring results. The department has made available £5,000 in the current year to help towards the printing costs of this campaign. About 12 counties have so far held a launch and a further 10 are planned.

§ Lord Stanley of Alderley
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the first thing to be done in trying to solve this tragic problem is to try to find its cause? Despite the fact that my noble friend's husband is a successful farmer, does she agree that one of the problems is lack of profitability in the industry? The other problem is persecution by bureaucrats, by NIMBYs, by planners and indeed by "greens", who fail totally to understand the problems that the farming community faces.

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, in a personal capacity I am doing all I can to reduce the rate of suicide among farmers. I cherish my husband with all my ability. I understand that this year farming incomes have increased by 10 per cent., but I cannot say I have actually noticed that personally! As regards bureaucrats, I certainly share my noble friend's view. The other day I was concerned to see an EEC form which asked farmers to write down the number of cows they had and to give figures in whole numbers!

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, are any figures available on this issue from other countries?

§ Lord Wakeham
My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware of the work of Professor Peter Blain of the toxicology unit of Newcastle-upon-Tyne University? He recently wrote a paper about the 434 long-term effects of organophosphate poisoning in which he described chronic neuro-psychiatric disorders as being one of the symptoms. Those disorders include depression. Will her Majesty's Government please bear that in mind if they make any inquiry into the incidence of suicide among farmers, particularly as an effort is being mounted to reduce the number of suicides?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, the House will be aware that yesterday my noble friend Lord Howe told the House that an independent Veterinary Products Committee will be considering the matter today. If the committee is convinced that organophosphate dips are harmful to human health it could recommend that the Government suspend the licences. However, we must wait and see what conclusions that committee reaches.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, are there any figures from other countries to compare with the figures which my noble friend quoted?

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, we do not have those figures. But when one looks at the suicide rates for farmers over the years they have been fairly consistent since the 1970s.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, I hope that I may make a further point. The noble Baroness slightly misunderstood me. I know that I have been waging a long campaign to have the licences suspended, but will the noble Baroness look out for the possibility that people may have been poisoned by organophosphates and are suffering depression? Will she ensure that they are therefore counselled properly? It is not a question of the licences being suspended and then forgetting about those people because they will still be suffering from depression.

§ Baroness Cumberlege
My Lords, I am sure that in the campaigns ahead involving the Samaritans and other organisations causes of suicide will be looked into with great care.