The effect of the 1996 'beef crisis' on depression and anxiety in farmers and non-farming controls.

This paper looks at the effect of the 1996 'BSE crisis' on the mental health of farmers from one semi-ural practice in North Yorkshire. In 1996, Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scales were sent to farmers and controls who had participated in a previous study in 1994. Comparative data for the two groups for the two years were obtained and analysed. The data showed that, despite fears raised as a result of the 'BSE crisis', the overall rates of depression and anxiety fell in both groups between 1994 and 1996, with the rates falling significantly more in the control group. However, the farmers were still more depressed and anxious than the controls, and those farmers that had been depressed or anxious in 1994 were more likely to be depressed or anxious in 1996. A longer period of time may be needed to determine the effect of the beef crisis on the mental health of farmers.