What assessment has the Minister made of the the Farm Safety Foundation survey that found 94 per cent of farmers believed that poor mental health is the greatest issue facing the farming industry?
I am fully aware farmers face a great deal of uncertainty which can have a detrimental impact on mental well-being. Improving mental health and well-being continues to be a priority for Welsh Government.
We are currently developing our successor mental health and suicide and self-harm strategies which will outline our proposed key priorities, this will be published for formal consultation in the new year. The final strategies will be accompanied with a more detailed delivery plan.
We also support several important activities to aid mental health in rural communities, such as the Farm Support Group, which brings together farming charities, to share knowledge and expertise and to provide a strong coordinated position on mental health support for the agriculture sector in Wales.
I frequently meet with the Group, most recently, at the Winter Fair last week.