FARMING IS UNPREDICTABLE
With so much out of our control and a never-ending list of work to do, it’s easy to forget to ask ourselves the most important question.
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Hay, Are You Ok?
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If a combine burns down at harvest, we ask for help. But when something is going on with our mental health, it can be harder.
If our animals are sick,
we get them the treatment they need.
If our irrigation system breaks down,
we search for the root of the problem.
If we need help on the farm,
we reach out to the ones closest to us.
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But when we aren’t okay
we don’t always do enough
IN 2021
1 IN 4
FARMERS FELT THEIR LIFE WAS NOT WORTH LIVING.
Dealing with the stress and anxiety that can come with farming and agriculture, often alone, can make it feel like there’s nothing left to lose. But it’s important to remember that even though it may seem like it, you’re not in this alone.
And although putting our heads down and pushing through is what we do best, that doesn’t mean you have to ignore it and push everything down. Reach out to a friend, seek out a professional, and find the strength to say the three bravest words.
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Farming is more than ![](/_nuxt/hay19.DGeW6-nV.png)
JUST A job
It’s not a 9-5
Roughly 1 in 2 farmers work off-farm to supplement their income.
It comes at a cost
The cost of farmland alone has gone up 20% since 2020 in addition to rising equipment costs.
We’re up against the elements
We aren’t just seeing the effects of environmental changes; we’re feeling them every day.
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We take pride in overcoming challenges
but often hide the ones
we fight in silence
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It’s not just you
"I’ve received well-intended advice to take two weeks off, but that’s just not possible."
- Quote from a Canadian Farmer
76%
of farmers classified as having moderate or high perceived stress
We’re under a lot of pressure. Anyone who says otherwise doesn’t understand farming. Our families, communities, crops, animals, and employees rely on us in ways that many people don’t understand. When you compound that with long hours, unpredictable weather, and the rising costs of doing business, the weight of it all can feel unbearable.
If we don’t talk about it
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no one ever will
40 0%
of farmers are afraid to admit to having mental health challenges and reach out for help because of the stigma
Mental health challenges are one of the many things that make farming tough, just like pests, inclement weather, and equipment malfunctions. And it’s time we started talking about them the same way.
If not for yourself, for your family, your friends, your neighbours, and the generation to come.
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Change starts small
but we are starting to come around
85 0%
of farmers believe we should do more to combat the stigma
Although the stigma may feel like an immense barrier when it comes to acknowledging, accepting, and seeking help, if we work together, we can break it down one conversation at a time. And just like any good crop, growth takes time, but it all pays off in the end.