The Strategy for Action on Farmers' Emotions (SAFE): working to address the mental health needs of the farming community.

Within the United Kingdom farmers are considered to be the fourth highest occupation group at risk of committing suicide. However, the mental health needs of the farming community are currently poorly understood or addressed by mental health nurses and community mental health teams. This is unacceptable both in terms of the presented level of risk, and in the direction of the most recent mental health review, which suggests that mental health nurses have unique skills in identifying and responding to suicidal behaviour. By building upon the practice of the first author, this paper outlines the Strategy for Action on Farmers' Emotions (SAFE), which develops a comprehensive strategy to respond to the mental health needs of the farming community. Where it is applicable, it is vital that these needs are brought from the margins to the mainstream of policy and service provision. This paper suggests that this position will only be achieved once an increased understanding of farming life and culture is gained.