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Countryfile star Adam Henson revealed that he broke down in tears after finding out that his farmer wellbeing podcast saved someone’s life.
The farmer and author, 58, has been open about his struggles losing a close friend to suicide and regularly talks about the worrying statistics surrounding mental health within the farming community.
He set up his podcast called Keeping On Track in collaboration with The Sound Doctor back in October 2023 and following a wave of positive feedback, revealed there is a second series in the works.
Reflecting on a recent conversation from a listener, Adam told Farmer’s Guide: ‘I was at an event recently, and a lady came up to me and said “You saved my husband’s life.”
‘When quizzed, she explained that he’s a farm a manager and had been in a very dark place mentally, but the podcast series has given him a huge lift and helped him seek support.
Countryfile star Adam Henson revealed that he broke down in tears after finding out that his farmers’ wellbeing podcast saved someone’s life (pictured on the programme)
He set up his podcast called Keeping On Track in collaboration with The Sound Doctor back in October 2023 (pictured with his wife Charlie in March 2023)
‘We hugged and both shed a tear. I thought to myself that if we’ve helped just one person, then it’s a job well done.’
Adam opened up about having been involved in farming his entire life and knowing that there are many things you ‘can’t control,’ which he believes is one of the reasons for the high suicide rate within the sector.
The aim of his series is to encourage communication within the farming community so no one has to suffer in silence.
A recent study by the Farm Safety Foundation revealed that 92% of UK farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today, which marks an increase from 82% in 2018.
Additionally, a study conducted by RABI has also shown that farmers have higher levels of mental ill-health than non- farmers and in 2021, it was found that one in three farming people were possibly or probably depressed.
You can listen to the second series of Keeping On Track wherever you get your podcasts.
The heartfelt admission comes just after bravely opened up about his wife Charlie’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis and how has it affected their family – including the heartbreaking admission that she wrote goodbye letters to her loved ones.
The television presenter revealed that the couple ‘cried a lot’ and decided to get married quickly after Charlie was diagnosed, seeing the wedding as a way of ‘saying goodbye to everyone’.
Adam opened up about having been involved in farming his entire life and knowing that there are many things you ‘can’t control,’ which he believes is one of the reasons for the high suicide rate within the sector (pictured on Countryfile)
The aim of his series is to encourage communication within the farming community so no one has to suffer in silence
The heartfelt admission comes just after bravely opened up about his wife Charlie’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis and how has it affected their family (pictured in 2019)
Charlie, who is now in ongoing recovery, fell ill over Christmas 2020 and went to see a doctor when she was still unwell in February 2021. Doctors later found a 4.5cm tumour.
The couple married in September 2021 in a ceremony in front of their closest loved ones at Stroud Registrar Office – just one day before Charlie was booked in for surgery.
In 2023, Adam told The Mirror: ‘Those vows cemented my emotions and let me say from the heart how I feel about Charlie.’
The pair had first met in their teenage years in sixth-form and live together on the 1600-acre Cotswolds farm where Adam grew up – they are proud parents to children Ella and Alfie, who are now both in their twenties.
- For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
