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Agricultural producers of all types experience unique occupational stress and mental health-related challenges.
It doesn’t matter if you are a dairy farmer, cattle rancher, orchardist, or berry producer. If you work as a primary agricultural producer, you experience unique stresses and mental health-related challenges as part of your occupation. These challenges result from how our systems of agriculture developed and are a structural part of the local, national, and global agricultural industry. Understanding what causes agriculturally related stress and learning ways to manage how you’re impacted by it can help reduce risks to your mental health and increase your quality of life while helping you farm more effectively.
Research conducted in 2021 showed that 76% of Canadian agricultural producers were experiencing moderate or high stress.[1]. Farmers experience higher stress and higher rates of moderate-severe anxiety and burnout than members of the public. Findings also suggested that producers may be at increased risk of future problems, with 83% having lower resilience scores than the general population.
Some Ways to Manage Stress
Be prepared
You can’t predict when you will face a crisis on the farm, but you can predict that you will at some point. Be prepared by working with your family and employees on a plan for what to do in a crisis. Working together to develop a plan will help manage stress for everyone.Build a Support Network
It’s important to know our strengths and our weaknesses. Learn the skills of everyone involved with your operation and seek out experts to help with those skills that are missing. Build relationships so you’re comfortable calling on them and can count on support in an emergency.A support network can include professional support, such as agrologists or farm business consultants, medical or mental health professionals, and spiritual advisors, but it can also include peers. Connecting with those who have gone through similar experiences can help you feel like someone understands.Communication is Key Communication is Key
With a heavy workload, taking time to communicate can feel like a chore. Staying in touch and communicating openly with friends, family, and neighbours is an important part of reducing stress. Try to talk openly about your struggles and listen to how others are doing. Communicating helps relieve stress and you might find that you get ideas for addressing a problem.Healthy eating
Diet can have a large impact on how you feel physically and mentally. Try to eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and proteins, focussing on whole foods. Avoid processed foods and refined sugar.Motion is Lotion
Farm life can be painful, both figuratively and literally. Staying active with regular, focused physical activity helps with pain control and maintaining a positive mindset. If you struggle to make the time, integrate it with your work. Try taking a brisk walk around the farm while you plan your day.Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
With 24/7 demands and periods of intense work, farmers are notoriously sleep-deprived. Sleep deprivation has short-term effects that cause risky behaviour while slowing reaction time and increasing the likelihood of making mistakes. In the long term, it can lead to serious health problems. Practicing good sleep hygiene can help ensure you get the best sleep possible. Avoid devices for an hour or two before bedtime. Turn off all lights and sources of sound before you hit the sack, and try to sleep in a cool, comfortable environment.
Seek Help When Necessary
Sometimes, we need help managing stress. Talking to family and friends about your stress and what’s causing it can provide fresh perspectives, support better problem-solving, and make you feel better.
You may want to seek support from a counsellor. Don’t wait until you reach a crisis - counsellors can help you proactively address the challenges of agriculture, build resilience, and maintain healthy mental well-being,
If you are in crisis, you should seek help immediately. In British Columbia, you can access the following crisis lines:
- 310-6789 - Mental Health Support Line provides emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health and substance use disorders 24 hours per day.
- 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) is for individuals considering suicide, or for those who are concerned about someone who may be at risk of suicide 24 hours per day.
- https://crisiscentrechat.ca – an online chat available after noon and before 1 AM daily