Designer
FarmWell VR
88% of UK farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as the biggest problem they face today.
(Farm Safety Foundation 2021)
Farmers worldwide have an increased risk of depression compared to the general public, (Hagen et al., 2019)
A number of factors for this increased risk have been identified, both within New Zealand farming communities and aboard. (Goffin, 2014)
Key reasons include:
-
Financial issues
-
Climate change
-
Loneliness
-
Lack of social support
-
Long hours
-
Family problems
My vision is to utilize generative AI and the immersive power of VR, in order to create a specialized AI therapist that can be utilized by farmers to express their thoughts and receive advice and support in a safe, supportive virtual space.
The focus for this project is primarily on young rural farmers, a demographic with a statistically high likelihood of isolation, depression and suicide. My solution focuses primarily on farmers located in New Zealand