Welsh farmers reassured over firearms licences and mental health

Farmers and certificate holders across Wales are being reassured that seeking early mental health support does not automatically put a firearm or shotgun certificate at risk. The joint message from NHS Wales and the four Welsh police forces comes as the Royal Welsh Show opens at Builth Wells today (20 July), where the Dyfed-Powys Police firearms licensing team is on BASC’s stand all week.

What do the firearms licensing teams say?

Adrian Phillips, firearms licensing manager with Dyfed-Powys Police (dyfed-powys.police.uk), said: “Each matter is considered on a case-by-case basis, and what I can say is that mental health issues do not automatically preclude a person from holding a certificate.”

“There are many examples of certificate holders being treated for anxiety, depression, work-related stress, ADHD and other ailments, whether historical or current,” he said. “There is also an expectation from current certificate holders that they correctly report and disclose all matters. It is much easier for everyone to try and work together than not disclose and potentially cause a problem in the future.”

South Wales Police, North Wales Police and Gwent Police echoed the message in a joint statement: “Seeking support or help does not necessarily mean guns are removed or certificates revoked. Each individual case will be sensitively reviewed and assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

Why are farmers worried about asking for help?

NHS Wales said misconceptions could be preventing some farmers from asking for help, particularly when experiencing stress, anxiety or low mood. The concerns were raised directly by farmers speaking to NHS Wales mental health staff at last year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Fionnuala Clayton, project manager for NHS Wales’ online cognitive behavioural service, which manages the SilverCloud Wales platform, said: “We know there is still a real stigma and some understandable concerns in farming communities about what might happen if people speak up about their mental health. It’s important for people to know that seeking help is a positive and responsible step.”

Wrexham beef and arable farmer Will Penri-Evans, who has spoken openly about his own experience of depression, said: “You can understand why farmers would be worried – I had concerns myself when I was taking medication for depression, but seeking help was the right thing to do, and in my case it didn’t affect my licence. In the grand scheme of things, if your health is suffering then your firearms licence should be low down on your list of priorities. Your health – including your mental health – has to come first.”

What are the rules on medical checks?

GP reports are required when applying for a new certificate or at renewal, and licensing authorities assess the information proportionately and with public safety in mind, Mr Phillips said: “We are here to prevent any foreseeable risk, manage the risk, be proportionate and fair, and provide a fair, rigorous, transparent and consistent service to the public.”

The three other forces said partnership with local health boards, GPs and local medical committees, alongside the nationally agreed information-sharing processes for relevant medical conditions, underpins the system: “We express our thanks to NHS staff that support us in this – its importance cannot be overstated.”

What happens next?

The forces say they will press the reassurance message at community events, county shows and shooting shows through the summer, while continuing to consult their independent advisory groups. The Royal Welsh Show runs until Thursday 23 July, and visitors can put licensing questions to the Dyfed-Powys team on BASC’s stand (see basc.org.uk/basc-at-the-royal-welsh-show).

SilverCloud Wales offers free, confidential online programmes for anxiety, depression, stress and sleep problems, with no GP referral needed; self-referral is at nhswales.silvercloudhealth.com/signup. Round-the-clock mental health support is available by calling 111 and selecting option 2.