Practical solutions and community support can help farmers manage stress, mental health advocates say.

Why it matters: Farming can be one of the most stressful professions in Canada, with farmers experiencing higher-than-average rates of depression and anxiety.

As spring begins, farmers are thinking about what to plant and which seeds and crop protection products to use. Meanwhile, weather, markets and geopolitics are out of their control.

“Think about the farmers across the country who experienced droughts, who experienced flooding, who experienced tariffs,” said Chad Bouma, a social worker practicing in the rural area around Drayton, Ont.

“All those things probably have been going through their mind since the harvest time.”

Bouma said he’s seen the stress and anxiety lead to decision paralysis.

“Those farmers have real difficulty even kind of making those decisions, because they don’t want to make the wrong decision, because maybe the decision they made last year was the wrong decision.

Stress clouds the judgement ‘window’

Stress can often cloud a person’s judgement and decision-making abilities said Megan Burnside-Poitras, communications advisor with Agricultural Wellness Ontario. Burnside-Poitras spoke at the Eastern Ontario Crops Conference earlier this year.

In her presentation, she compared stress and judgement to a window.

“I look out my office window in the afternoon. I’m looking out into the farm, into an orchard. It’s a beautiful window to look at.”

“Most days, you know, that window is pretty huge, a big picture window, and it’s very clear, and I can see how beautiful it is out,” she said. “But occasionally, it’s harder to see out that window.”

In times of higher stress, it is common to experience ‘hyperarousal,’ an agitated state with higher energy, or ‘hypoarousal,’ a state of shutting down. Both these situations can cloud that window.

“It’s a whole lot harder to see that same beautiful visual that’s on the other side of it, even though it’s still there, because things are getting cloudy because of that stress.”

Outside factors like weather, tariffs, market prices and public perception can “draw the blinds” on the window, obscuring the view.

How farmers can manage stress

Bouma said the role of a social worker is to give farmers the tools to see their situation clearly and understand when they need support.

“Some farmers experiencing anxiety, they don’t know that it’s anxiety,” he said. “They might just think it’s stress that they can’t get over, and then they beat themselves up.”

Recognition and awareness-building are critical.

“A lot of the time we don’t actually know that there’s something wrong until something catastrophic has happened, or there’s a crisis,” Bouma said.

One of the most important things in high-stress times is to focus on prevention and mitigation measures, Burnside-Poitras said. This means identifying stress triggers, how they can be mitigated and focusing on what can be controlled. This could be as simple as staying rested, hydrated and well-fed.

Community a mental health advantage

When it comes to mental health, the advantage in agricultural communities is just that: community.

Burnside-Poitras cited a study from Stanford University which concludes “Social ties in general are going to lead to lower stress, anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, increased trust and cooperation and enhanced well-being altogether” as well as a 50 per cent chance of a longer life.

“The community perspective for mental health and farming is the most important piece of this,” Bouma said. “I cannot emphasize that any stronger.”

“When we isolate (mental health) or we individualize it, then it’s not going to go very far, is it?”

“There’s a lot of resilience already built into farming,” he said. Farmers have often seen previous generations go through similar seasons.

Keeping the community connection can mean checking in on neighbours or getting involved with local community groups.

The rhythm of the seasons can also provide critical reflection time. Bouma said some farmers will do this on their own, while others may draw on peer groups.

“They are looking for practical solutions,” he said. “Hoping for the best is all well and good, but they also need to have pen to paper for that too.”

The post How farmers can manage stress, anxiety during spring seeding appeared first on Country Guide.

Applications for the foundation’s 2026 Community Fund for Mental Health opened on March 30.

In 2026, the fund will provide rural and agricultural communities with access to Talk, Act, Listen, which is Do More Ag’s flagship mental health literacy workshop.

WHY IT MATTERS: Canadian farmers face persistent stressors that take a toll on their mental health.

Through this workshop, participants can build confidence in starting informed conversations about mental health, develop practical support skills and strengthen local networks to help individuals and families thrive.

The program is designed to recognize the unique stresses in agricultural life.

In 2025, the community fund received applications from nearly 80 communities across 11 provinces and territories with 42 workshops delivered across seven provinces.

Non-profit community groups and organizations based in rural and agricultural regions can learn more at Do More Ag Community Fund.

The 2026 application period closes April 30.

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The survey invites farmers and ranchers across all commodities and regions in Canada to share their experiences with stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, resilience, and coping mechanisms. It’s conducted in partnership with the University of Guelph.

“Strong participation helps ensure that future research, programs, and policy decisions are informed by the real experiences of farmers and ranchers,” the centre said in a news release.

WHY IT MATTERS: The survey will improve understanding of the current state of mental health in agriculture and build on the previous national surveys from 2016 and 2021.

In 2021, the showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened existing issues of high stress, anxiety, and burnout among farmers and ranchers, with women reporting poorer mental health than men across all measures except alcohol use.

“Both women and men who farm scored worse than the general population, but the women scored even worse,” said Briana Hagen, the centre’s and lead scientist, told Farmtario in November 2022. “Given the role of women in farming, this data highlights a pretty serious problem that we have to start looking into.”

Suicidal ideation was twice as high in farmers as in the general population said University of Guelph researcher Dr. Andria Jones in a 2022 article from the university. Jones led the research that year.

She also noted that one in four participants reported having thought their life wasn’t worth living, wishing they were dead, or having thoughts of taking their own life in the 12 months leading up to the survey.

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A large study found a small but consistent dip in people’s wellbeing in the run-up to Christmas. One psychological process that often shows up under this pressure is worry.

It helps to separate worry from anxiety, because although they feel similar, they are not the same. Worry is mostly a thought process, often taking the form of “what if” questions such as “what if I don’t make everyone happy?” or “what if the cooking goes wrong?”. It tends to be negative and focused on the future.

Anxiety, by contrast, is the body’s threat system revving up. People may experience it as tension, dread, a racing heart or a churning stomach. But there is another part of worry that is particularly important. The issue is rarely the first “what if” thought. It is what happens next.

A psychological approach called metacognitive therapy focuses on the beliefs people hold about worrying itself. These beliefs can quietly determine whether worry passes quickly or turns into a long spiral.

Some beliefs sound reassuring or even helpful. Research has identified positive beliefs such as “worrying helps me prepare”, “worrying stops bad things from happening”, or “worrying shows I care”.

Others are more openly distressing. Negative beliefs include thoughts such as “my worrying is uncontrollable” or “my worrying is dangerous”.

Together, these beliefs can keep worry going by making it feel urgent, important and impossible to step away from.

When worry feels urgent and uncontrollable, people often try to manage it in ways that backfire: answering one “what if” with another, seeking repeated reassurance, misusing alcohol, or trying to block thoughts altogether.

Interrupting the worry pattern

One way to interrupt this pattern is to catch worry early and picture it as a text message.

A worry thought arrives like a message on your phone: What if the dinner goes wrong? What if they spoil things? What if they are disappointed with the gift?

You did not choose for the message to arrive. Thoughts often appear automatically. But the message contains a link and invites you to click on it. Clicking the link leads to prolonged worrying, rising anxiety and attempts to solve unsolvable problems at 2am.

The key point is this: you may not control which messages arrive, but you can learn not to click every link. That is the most controllable part of worry.

A technique designed to do this is called “worry postponement”, and it is more evidence based than it sounds. Studies and reviews show that postponing worry, or confining it to a specific time window, can reduce overall worry levels.

The idea is simple. You are postponing engagement with worry, not pretending it is not there. Pick a daily “worry slot” that is not just before bed. Five to ten minutes is enough.

Postponing worry

When a worry message arrives outside that window, do something small but deliberate: notice it, name it as worry, and postpone it. For example: “That’s a worry message. I’ll deal with it at 7:30 p.m.” If it returns later, do the same again: notice, name, postpone.

When 7:30 p.m. arrives, you can engage with the worry if you choose, but only for the agreed time.

Many people forget to use the slot at all, or find that after a day of postponing worry they feel less motivated to start worrying. Evidence suggests that learning to control your response to worry reduces its power.

Another helpful step is questioning beliefs about the usefulness of worry.

Worry often masquerades as protection. It can feel like it prevents disappointment, shows how much you care, or keeps bad things from happening.

One study found that over 90 per cent of people’s worries, as logged day to day, did not come true.

Dealing with worry step by step

Even when the issue is real, such as money or a difficult family situation, worry is not the same as dealing with the problem. Studies suggest that getting stuck in worry can make people less clear, less confident and more anxious than approaching the issue in a practical, step-by-step way:

• If the task is preparation, planning works better than worrying.
• If the task is avoiding conflict, setting a boundary is more effective than worrying.
• If the task is showing care, actions matter more than worry.

Reframing these beliefs as another kind of scam message can make worry feel less convincing and less worth clicking on.

Christmas can be a difficult time, with heightened pressures and expectations. Learning not to click every worry link can make it more manageable. It is a skill for life, not just for Christmas.

—Robin Bailey is an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the University of Cambridge.

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“One service provider even talked about how a survivor left everything behind except for her horse,” said researcher Sue O’Neill.

“She had to bring her horse with her.”

Speakers at the Humane Canada One Health One Welfare Conference in Ottawa explained the intersections between animal health and gender-based violence. This included lack of supports in cases involving livestock and how the welfare of animals can be used against victims.

O’Neill, a PhD student, has researched the relationship between gender-based violence and farmed animals. She said she “kept hearing from survivors and service providers that there were gaps for survivors who had larger companion or farming or working animals.”

The bond between survivor and animal

She found there are often strong connections between survivors and animals.

“Survivors and service providers really emphasized that there was an emotional impact of the connection survivors had to these types of animals,” O’Neill said in breakout session at the conference.

That bond was often offered a source of happiness and contrast to the abuse they were experiencing.

The species of the animal didn’t always matter. O’Neill told the story of one survivor who spoke about a cow the same way she would expect someone to speak about a dog.

Another said she would often talk to her goats who would bleat back at her. This was more response than she got from her partner, who would stonewall her.

“Multiple survivors really highlighted that their bond with these types of animals actually offers emotional support and described it as also offering radical acceptance,” O’Neill said.

Animals used against victims

Farm animals can also provide security. One survivor said she felt safer in a paddock with her horse than in her home. Another said her cow was her inspiration to leave, since she felt she must build a better life for her and the cow.

However, the security and comfort the animals provide can be used against survivors. O’Neill said abusers will sometimes threaten harm or financial abuse such as selling animals below their value to keep their victims in place.

The animals might also be integral to the survivor’s income and livelihood. If they leave the abusive relationship, their financial security might be impacts — particularly when the abuser maintained access to the animals.

This can also become a concern when the welfare of a farm is at stake if victims choose to leave.

Animal abuse and intimate partner violence are often inextricable linked said Humane Canada justice and legislative affairs manager Kerri Thompson in a panel discussion.

“Violence does not happen in a vacuum,” Thompson said. “Hurt people hurt people, and they will also hurt animals.”

Few supports

For survivors, supports can be few and far between. O’Neill said there are select programs that offer to shelter animals, but they are rare and often nonexistent in rural or remote areas.

This is especially true of larger farm animals which require greater care, including trailering, handling or milking.

In some cases, neighbours experienced with farm animals may offer care — though this might require the sympathetic neighbor to go to the home of the abuser.

“All of this leads to survivors being faced with a really impossible choice,” O’Neill said. “If survivors have to sell or give up their animals, they may never know what happens to these animals. It can be very traumatic.”

There can also be concerns around privacy in rural communities where information travels quickly among neighbours.

Though the issue is complex, O’Neill pointed to several measures which could represent the beginning of meaningful change.

One would be to encourage gender-based violence shelters to adopt co-sheltering or community programs that offer off-site animal safekeeping, boarding or fostering. Though these programs are often focused on smaller pets, she said they could open the door to addressing bigger problems with more sustainable change.

A one health approach could be part of the solution said University of Windsor professor Amy Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald’s research examines links between animal studies and criminology.

“We think that achieving gender justice is going to require ecological and species justice,” Fitzgerald said. “One health, one welfare helps to highlight these important connections.”

The post Domestic abuse survivors may need extra support when livestock is involved, experts say appeared first on Country Guide.

“I explain AgTalk as the farmer coffee row… backed by trained clinicians. Anyone involved in agriculture is welcome,” said Do More Ag executive director Merle Massie in a news release.

“You don’t have to be in crisis to find AgTalk useful and powerful. We are proud to work with our partners to build a space where people can be themselves, and welcome, without masking what they’re feeling and pretending to be OK.”

BASF Canada, the RBC Foundation and the McCain Foundation have renewed commitments to support AgTalk, which is backed by online mental health support community Togetherall.

The platform provides a safe, anonymous space for people over the age of 16 to connect, share struggles, stories and advice, and to receive support, according to Do More Ag’s website. It’s monitored around the clock by clinicians.

Do More Ag launched the platform in 2023. Since then, AgTalk has seen more than 10,000 interactions, the news release says.

The top five issues for AgTalk users mentioned are stress, depression, anxiety and relationships.

More than 60 per cent of AgTalk users are not receiving any formal mental health support and one third of users don’t access any mental health support outside of AgTalk. One in three users had considered suicide.

“In agriculture, where long hours, unpredictable conditions and high stakes are part of daily life, talking about mental health can be difficult. Too often, members of our community face these challenges in silence and feel isolated. That’s why platforms like AgTalk matter,” said BASF Canada vice president Leta LaRush.

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The stress can build until it’s too loud to ignore.

“For many farmers, these stressors are simply part of the job,” says Che Burnett, registered social worker at Counselling Alberta. “But when stress goes unchecked for too long, it can start to affect more than just your work — it can impact your relationships, your decision-making and your overall well-being.” 

Mental Health Week (May 5-11) is a great opportunity to talk openly about how these challenges can affect mental health, and how farmers across Canada can take practical steps to manage the stress and anxiety that come with the industry.

The weight of work 

While many farmers are used to pushing through, the prolonged stress that comes with this approach doesn’t just go away.  “Over time, the pressure can build up in ways you might not expect,” Burnett says. “For some, chronic stress can lead to trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, foggy memory, frequent outbursts, or feeling constantly on edge. For others, it can show up as sadness, anger, or isolation, and when left unaddressed, it can lead to depression, addiction, or even thoughts of suicide.

Statistics reflect the weight of the work that comes with farming. According to research from the University of Guelph, one in four farmers feel that life isn’t worth living. The Centre for Suicide Prevention reports that 57 per cent of farmers experience anxiety, 45 per cent report high stress, and 35 per cent experience depression. Yet, according to a report in The Globe and Mail, stigma around mental health and a lack of accessible resources remain barriers for farmers, with 40 per cent saying they feel uneasy asking for help.

“It’s important to understand that mental health challenges aren’t a personal failure,” says Burnett. 

With a never-ending to-do list, most farmers aren’t in the habit of checking in on their own well-being, especially in a culture where hard work is valued above all else, and where asking for help may be seen as a sign of weakness. 

But managing stress isn’t about doing less; it’s about taking care of yourself so that you can keep doing the work you care about.

“Think of it like running your tractor. You often check the fuel, oil and tire pressure to make sure it’s running well, so it doesn’t break down. The same goes for your mental health. Sometimes, you need to stop and check in with how you’re feeling, so you don’t burn out and can keep functioning at your best,” says Burnett.

Signs it might be time to pause

Mental Health Week serves as a timely reminder to check in — not just with others, but with yourself. Burnett encourages farmers to watch for early warning signs that stress might be taking a toll.

Burnett says that sometimes, it can be hard to know when you need a break, especially when you’re in the thick of a busy season. “You might think to yourself, ‘I’m just having a bad day. I can push through.’ But when those tough days turn into weeks or months, it’s time to check in.”

“Sound familiar?” asks Burnett. “You’re not alone. While these signs don’t always mean that something is seriously wrong, they are worth paying attention to.” 

It can be easy to internalize stress as a personal failing. You might think, “I should be able to handle this” or “Other people have it worse.” But stress isn’t about weakness; it’s about capacity and understanding your limits. Just like any machine or person, there’s a limit to how much pressure you can take before something gives. The good news is there are practical, realistic ways to ease that mental load.

Strategies that work with your lifestyle

Farming doesn’t follow a nine-to-five schedule, so telling a farmer to “just relax” or “take a vacation” isn’t always helpful. But there are ways you can support your mental health that don’t involve dropping everything. “It’s often the small, intentional steps that make the biggest difference,” says Burnett.

Some of his recommendations include:

• Use time on the tractor to your advantage: Long hours alone out on the field can feel isolating, but they can also be an opportunity to connect. Call a friend, check in with family, or throw on a podcast that helps you feel grounded and supported.
• Practice check-ins: Give yourself space to ask, “How am I really doing?” Just like how you go to the doctor or dentist to look after your physical health, it’s important to do the same with your mental health.
• Break the surface: Next time you see a neighbour or run into someone at the gas station, go past a basic “How’s it going?” Try a simple follow-up such as, “No really, how are you doing? Tell me what’s been on your mind.” You don’t need to fix anything or have all the answers. Just listening to each other can go a long way.
• Visit on the way home: Make it a habit to stop in at a neighbour’s place on your way home from the farm, even for a quick coffee or chat. That connection and sense of community matters more than you think.

Dealing with uncertainty

One of the hardest parts of farming is learning to live with the unknown. Will the market hold? Will the rain come? Will the next generation want to take over? There’s no magic solution to that kind of unpredictability, but there are ways to manage it.

Burnett emphasizes the importance of going back to what is within your control. “What you eat. How much water you drink. Whether you get to bed at a decent hour. How you take care of your body. Who you turn to for support. These might seem small, but they’re often the best ways to protect your mental health,” he explains.

It’s easy to get caught up in the what ifs, especially when so much is out of your control. But constantly thinking about the unknown or bracing yourself for the worst can be mentally exhausting. Instead, Burnett suggests setting a time limit. “Give yourself 10 minutes to think about what’s bothering you, think about how it affects you, and validate those feelings. Then, when the 10 minutes is up, do your best to redirect your focus elsewhere, like a task around the house, a conversation with a friend, or even a few deep breaths,” he suggests.

“Getting involved in community events, local clubs, or even volunteering can also help shift focus away from what’s uncertain and toward what’s meaningful,” adds Burnett.

What if you’re approaching retirement or navigating a major transition? Acknowledge that it’s a big deal. Talk about it. Let others in. You don’t have to do it alone.

Asking for help is a smart business decision

In farming, problems are meant to be solved. Whether it’s a broken machine, a sick animal, or a tough growing season, farmers are quick to find a solution. But when it comes to mental health, many are hesitant to ask for help because it carries a stigma in many rural communities — particularly among men. A report from the Mental Health Commission of Canada notes that rural males are twice as likely to die by suicide than their urban counterparts.

“It’s time to challenge the idea that struggling means you’re weak. True strength means recognizing when you’re struggling and doing something about it,” says Burnett.

“Counselling can help you navigate stress, build healthier coping skills and get to the root of what’s holding you back. And yes, counselling can feel unfamiliar and intimidating. But think of it this way: just like you’d call a specialist for help with machinery, finances, animals, or crops for your farm business, a counsellor is someone trained to help you sort through tough situations, emotions and decisions. They’re there to offer tools and support that work for your lifestyle, without bias or judgment,” he adds.

Plus, accessing help has never been easier. “At Counselling Alberta, you can talk to a trained professional right from your tractor or combine if you need to,” Burnett says. “Phone and video options mean you don’t have to drive to a city or take a day off from the farm to talk to someone who gets it. You’re not weak. You’re human. And feeling better is possible.”

– Jenna Forbes is a Communications & Marketing Associate with the Calgary Counselling Centre

The post How to manage your mental health  appeared first on Country Guide.

A little over 20 years ago Friesen’s farm was in financial crisis after years of market volatility, tariffs and low prices. “At the time, my mind was working overtime, replaying worst case scenarios, questioning everything and painting pictures of a future I didn’t want to face,” he says.

He was caught in a cycle of worry.

“My worrying was driven by uncertainty. But I’ve learned that worrying doesn’t prevent the hard stuff from happening. If anything, it makes the present harder to bear. The more we worry, the higher the anxiety gets,” says Friesen. “It’s a vicious cycle.” 

And dealing with uncertainty makes it worse. 

Friesen explains that we have a rational brain and an irrational brain. In times of uncertainty, it’s the irrational part that takes over. 

To illustrate his point, Friesen shares the example of a farmer whose business was in a financial crisis. The farmer was dreading opening a bill for custom work. For weeks, the bill sat unopened while the farmer continued to worry about how high the bill would be. When he finally opened the bill, even though the amount was actually higher than he had anticipated, Friesen says the farmer was then able to address how he would pay the bill because now it was concrete.

Friesen has written a book called The Recovering Farmer: A Journey Through the Labyrinth of Anxiety and Depression. It’s part self-help book, part personal stories compiled from his 22 years spent farming. 

Friesen also works in conflict management and mediation. He is the CAO of the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program and was recently awarded the Mental Health Champion award by the Manitoba Pork Council.

Friesen regularly shares his story with those on a similar journey as well as some of the tools that helped and continue to help him today:

• Be self-aware: Friesen says he has found that it’s important to be aware of how stress is affecting him and to be proactive, to just deal with it.
• Practice self-care: This means getting exercise, eating right and getting enough sleep.
• Set realistic expectations: Friesen cautions that “farmers can be prone to thinking next week, next month, or next year will be better.” Friesen says that help can come in the form of a business advisor who could provide objectivity when you’re trying to put realistic plans in place. 
• Seek help: Friesen recommends talking to others. At first, stigma kept him from sharing his situation with others, but after he shared what was going on with an empathetic neighbour who just listened, he learned that talking about it helped. He says that help can also come from a mental health counsellor. “It’s never been easier to get help. Take advantage of it,” he says.

While there’s always something that needs to be done on the farm, Friesen emphasizes the need to prioritize mental health. “Don’t put it off,” he says. “Reaching out for help is an indication of strength.”

For more information on Friesen’s book, go to: gerryfriesen.ca/book

How to win over your worry

Kathy Somers, who runs the Stress Management and High Performance Clinic at the University of Guelph, offers several tips for managing stress and reducing worry for better health and business performance. Somers grew up on a farm in southwestern Ontario and coaches farmers to learn how to better manage stress. She understands the uncertainty farmers regularly face, such as extreme weather, disease, market volatility and more. This year is shaping up to be particularly stressful.

Somers acknowledges that it’s natural to worry. It’s a survival mechanism. Worrying can help us come up with solutions that prevent or minimize problems or help us find ways to cope.

Unfortunately, when we are overly focused on the problem, it can lead to catastrophizing, to feeling anxious, to making bad decisions, and experiencing poor sleep and physical health.

While focused worry can be constructive when we use it as a prompt to come up with a plan, Somers points out that our brains have a negativity bias which can lead us to overestimate how bad a situation will be and underestimate our ability to cope. “We can become overly focused on the problem,” she says, noting that worrying can become a habit. “Anxiety and worry go hand in hand.”

Somers offers the following strategies that can help train our brains to break the worry cycle:

• Worry WRITE. (This technique, created by Somers, is a play on words. She says, “If we are built with a worrying brain, let’s worry right, i.e., write it down along with the plan of action.”) On the left-hand side of a page, write down what’s worrying you. On the right side of the page, write out your plan for how you can prevent that worry from happening. If you can’t prevent it, write how you could cope through it, including how you would deal with tension, embarrassment, negative thoughts, etc. Put the paper away when finished to signal to your brain that there is a time and a place for worry.
• If the worry is not something you can control, let it go and focus your time and energy on what you can control.
• Create worry-free zones to train your brain to have breaks from worrying. Designate 10 to 20-minute periods throughout the day as worry-free periods. Focus instead on pleasant dinner conversation topics, playing with the dog, enjoying a walk in the fields, reading a book or other activities, reminding yourself that worrying is banished from these time blocks.
• If it feels like dwelling on a worry is helpful or protective, try the 2-Minute Rule. Follow worry thoughts for two minutes, then ask yourself if you have gained better action plans or are feeling more calm. If the answers are “no”, then spending even more time on worrying about that particular problem will not be helpful. Let it go and move on to other things.
• Get feedback from a trusted friend. Never worry alone.
• Avoid co-ruminating. If you get together with others and you are just rehashing the problem over and over again without making progress, consider limiting the time spent discussing the problem to 15 minutes and then focus on action plans or more neutral or uplifting topics.
• Limit doomscrolling. When faced with uncertainty, we may find ourselves spending a lot of time online seeking information. Set a time limit and if the time spent online isn’t productive, take a break.
• Remind yourself that you have managed tough situations before. Tell yourself “I WILL handle it” or “I may not be able to control the situation, but I can control my response to the situation.”
• Move on. Let the worry go. Practice meditation or relaxation exercises, participate in engaging activities, exercise, etc. — meaningful activities that connect you with something larger than yourself.

Resources

• Contact the Stress Management and High-Performance Clinic at selfregulationskills.ca or,
• visit the National Farmer Crisis Line. It offers free, immediate and ag-informed crisis support for farmers, farm families and agricultural workers across Canada. Call 1-866-FARMS01 any time, 24/7, 365 days a year.

The post What to do when worry takes over appeared first on Country Guide.

Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the three-year, $3-million initiative on March 6. It will be delivered by AAFC in partnership with the Privy Council Office’s Impact Canada. The PMWI aims to bring forward collaborative solutions that use creative, data-based approaches to help improve the wellbeing of producers; reduce the stigma around mental health in agriculture; raise awareness; and offer the support producers need, when they need it.

“Our producers do so much for us — often making personal sacrifices so they can deliver their top-quality products,” said MacAulay in a press release. “Their mental health should not be something they have to sacrifice. Through this new initiative, we’re giving Canadians an opportunity to come up with new solutions for producer mental wellbeing that will help reduce stigma and improve access to tailored support.”

The PMWI is now open for application intake until June 3, 2025. For-profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations and individuals registered to do business in Canada are encouraged to apply.

The initiative will use a three-stage approach to move innovators through the process of proposing, developing and implementing their solutions. At each stage, a jury, made up of subject matter experts, will recommend which innovative solutions move to the next stage and receive funding. Two grand prize winners will ultimately receive up to $500,000 each to scale their solutions, grow their impact and increase the potential to support the wellbeing of more producers across the country.

Key stressors for producers include climate change, isolation, stigma and the physical and emotional demands of farming, says the PMWI website. Anxiety, depression and stress from financial uncertainty, weather unpredictability and the unique pressures of managing farm operations were also cited as significant mental health challenges faced by farmers.

The post New initiative to promote farmer mental health launched appeared first on Country Guide.

Finances, family disagreements, weather, long hours, lack of sleep, volatile markets, industry regulations and paperwork, uncertain crop yield, machinery breakdowns, technology, and the well-being of livestock are the most common.

High stress levels are common on farms, but that’s dangerous because they can affect the decisions you make.

Producer mental health

Last June, at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association annual general meeting in Swift Current, Sask., Cynthia Beck, producer and registered psychologist, emphasized the importance of mental health in the agricultural industry.

“I think that the number one thing for people to realize is that mental health and well-being are major drivers behind decision-making and risk-taking,” Beck says.

According to a 2021 survey by the University of Guelph, thoughts of suicide are two times higher in farmers than in the general public, and one in four producers had thought about taking their own life in the previous 12 months. Seventy-six per cent of farmers reported experiencing relatively high levels of stress.

Research at the University of Manitoba shows that while it is clear how weather and environmental challenges affect producer and animal health, the producer’s mental health can affect their livestock, too.

Katie Songer, communications campaign manager of AgKnow, a not-for-profit organization that works to destigmatize mental health and provides resources and support to farmers, says farming is one of the most stressful occupations.

“The unique challenges associated with farming can lead to an increased risk of poor mental health,” Songer writes in an email interview.

In addition to stressors, producers can experience barriers accessing mental health resources, because they live in remote rural communities where there isn’t adequate access to services. Sometimes available counsellors aren’t educated about the unique challenges of the agriculture industry. Songer says there is also concern about how disclosing mental health issues might affect the farmer’s business relationship with lenders.

“The stigma surrounding mental illness means many farmers choose to leave their symptoms unaddressed.”

Stress and decision-making

“There are physical impacts of stress on us,” Beck says. “And when you’re dealing with a lack of sleep, dehydration, nutrition, substance abuse and environmental exposures, those all add up over time.”

Songer says moderate stress can be healthy, as it makes you more alert and perform better, but only if it is brief.

“Unfortunately, if we stay in that overstressed zone for too long (chronic stress), our work is going to suffer.”

She says stress can affect a producer’s work performance by limiting how they make novel decisions and adapt to change. This can lead to poor decision-making in high-stress scenarios, which has lasting repercussions.

“The brain resorts to habitual decision-making because it exerts fewer demands on our cognitive resources,” Songer says. “Just as stress affects our ability to make new decisions, it also affects brain chemistry, making it difficult to assess benefits and costs.”

Beck highlights a situation shared with her. A cattle producer sold his entire herd essentially overnight without alerting his spouse, erasing decades of hard work and genetics. Beck says the producer told his wife there was no pasture or feed for the cattle and 24 hours later cattle liners started pulling into the yard.

“And for him — who was not sleeping, not eating, he was very stressed out — the problem was so big, but there was no way to look around it to find a solution other than the most obvious one, which was loading everything on the liner and saying goodbye.”

Beck says that was a short-term decision made because of chronic stress, which affected not only the producer but everyone around him.

“There was a lot of fallout, long-term detriments that came from that really snap decision… and that speaks to the increase in risk-taking behaviour.”

She says situations like this happen because chronic stress hinders your communication skills and decreases your ability to regulate your emotions.

Songer says poor decisions caused by stress might not just affect your operation, they could cost you your life.

“When a farmer is stressed, they may become distracted, and this distraction can cause errors that lead to serious or fatal incidents, such as tractor rollovers or entanglement in a fast-moving machine.”

Solutions

There are things you can do to mitigate your amount of stress.

According to Beck, this includes basic self-maintenance such as fueling your body, getting adequate rest (i.e., sleep and disconnecting from your workload), moving your body and adding positive activities separate from work.

She says research links long-term sleep deprivation to increased rates of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s — important for producers to know, since they are usually putting in long hours and starting early in the morning.

She says taking time for yourself is very important.

“Go take a walk through your pasture. You might consider that work because you could be checking cows. But you may also find that being out there can reconnect you to your purpose, to what you’re doing there in the first place.”

Beck says when trying to combat stress, it’s important to recognize the time frame. What must get done today? Is there anything on my list that is not my responsibility or my business? When will my stress expire?

“Our stress is cyclical. We have one haying season, one silage season. But quite often, our stress is stacked on top of each other. So, what ends up happening is that we almost feel like we’re drowning all the time.

“If you break down the stress, and kind of look at what you’re dealing with in the moment and when that stress will automatically expire, it will help you to maintain your motivation level. It will also help you to maintain your productivity.”

While the farm never stops or slows down, taking the time to look after your mental health is just as important.

“Taking care of your mental health is crucial for your farm to be sustainable, profitable and personally rewarding,” Songer says. “It is not a sign of weakness to acknowledge when you are going through a stressful time. Many tools and professionals are available to help you manage the impacts of stress on your well-being and your operation, including mental health professionals.”

Beck says patience with yourself is also important when you are working to break the cycle of stress because it takes time to change habits and coping patterns.

Where to turn for help

AgKnow has identified many counsellors who are equipped to help with the specific needs of Alberta farmers as counsellors either grew up on a farm, are farmers or have previous experience with farmers. Currently, AgKnow’s farm therapy pilot program is paused, but they hope to start again once funding resumes. This doesn’t mean producers can’t book with therapists, but they will have to pay for their sessions instead of AgKnow providing those funds.

The AgKnow therapist network provides preventative support for farmers and is not intended to provide immediate crisis response, but some of their therapists are also counsellors for crisis support programs.

Resources nation-wide for farmers who need immediate assistance include 911; 988 (Suicide Crisis Canada 24-hour crisis line); or 811 (link to non-emergency health services in all provinces).

Counselling Alberta can provide low-cost counselling with no waiting list and can redirect serious cases to a crisis line.

In Saskatchewan, there is the Farm Stress Line and SaskAg Matters Mental Health Network.

Manitoba has the Farmers HelpLine through Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program and the Manitoba Farm, Rural and Northern Support Services.

Ontario has Agriculture Wellness Ontario, which has many different resources, such as the Farmer Wellness Initiative, a free individual counselling service; the Guardian Network, a volunteer suicide-prevention network; and In the Know, a mental health literacy workshop for the agriculture community.

Additional resources can be found on the Do More Ag website.

“When you feel like quitting, please remember why you started,” says Cynthia Beck, producer and registered psychologist. “Sometimes when we are really super-stressed, it’s hard to recognize why we started (in the agriculture industry). And sometimes that will bring us back into realizing why we want to keep on going.”

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