AS days shorten and darkness draws in, it is hard for the nation not to feel anxious heading into a Covid-19 winter. The pandemic has caused a separate epidemic of its own, with a surge in people reporting mental health difficulties during 2020.

Now, not only does the risk of infection rise with colder weather, but the dark nights mean looking after our mental wellbeing becomes more challenging too.

Richard Rankin, chief executive of H&H Group, discusses what can be done to support those around, and in particular to the wider farming community who are essential to keeping the nation fed.

He says: “Summer is well and truly over, and while it was already difficult to stay positive during lockdown in the spring, at least the nation had the sun on its face and lengthening evenings to get out for those daily walks to keep it motivated.

"While mental health problems can affect anyone, anywhere and at any time of day, with the clocks changing and winter rapidly approaching, I expect a lot of us will already be beginning to experience seasonal lows. Working to keep mentally and physically fit is hard enough in normal times, so now mutual support is going to be a key factor in getting us through the next six months.

“With many northern agricultural regions already experiencing second lockdowns, it will be more important than ever to check in with our communities and be there for one another in times of loneliness as the pandemic extends into winter, especially for those in rural industries like farming, where the isolation of the job is well known.

“For farmers, while not affected by work-from-home guidance as they already mostly work alone, the places that did offer that vital connectivity and social contact have been forced to change."

Harrison & Hetherington have revolutionised livestock auctioneering with its online sales, but without the sociability that comes with the weekly marts, engaging face-to-face with others in farming has become very difficult.

For generations, marts have been a centre for trade, but also for social relationships. For farmers who spend most of their time alone out in the fields, the marts are somewhere they can discuss the trade, the weather, the crops, and catch up with each other as friends. Being removed from this environment and unable to discuss the ups and downs of farming and life with those who understand will undoubtedly put pressure on people’s mental health.

Mr Rankin said: “That’s why during this winter, it will be vital to take advantage of the fact that it has never been easier to engage digitally with others. It’s up to the less senior members of our communities to provide help to the older farming generation to get online and stay connected with friends, family and fellow farmers.

"This will go a long way to fight isolation. We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, so we should be making the relative state of everyone’s mental health a much more normal topic of conversation."

Here are some things we can do to help others, which could change someone’s day, week, or even their life:

  • Check in with local elderly neighbours, bake them a cake and knock on the door or tap the window to check people living alone are okay;
  • Plate an extra dinner plate if you know someone isn't cooking for themselves;
  • If you see a farmer in their field, stop to see how their day is, comment on the weather or ask how their daily work is going;
  • Make one call each day to a family member, neighbour or friend you haven’t spoken to for a while;
  • Take your spare books up to the bus shelter or phone box for exchange – pop a notice in the village notice board to spread the message;
  • Offer to walk an elderly person's dog, especially as the weather gets worse, and stay for a chat on the doorstep when you return;
  • Offer to buy some bits from the shop for anyone you know is shielding or vulnerable;
  • When you see someone on their own, smile and say hello, even try and chat;
  • Offer to tidy someone's garden;
  • Take someone's bin back in.

Mr Rankin said: “Recognising that it’s okay to have a low day goes hand in hand with also working hard to make sure it doesn’t turn into a bad week, or a bad month. Mental health can snowball, so as the clocks change, being there for someone or catching it early and talking before it escalates will be the best way for our communities to weather this coming winter.”