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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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.

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.

Farming is more than

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.

We take pride in overcoming challenges

but often hide the ones

we fight in silence

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.

58%

of farmers meet the classification for anxiety​

Uncertainty can lead to increased stress, worry, helplessness, and ultimately, feelings of anxiety. It’s a word that carries a heavy stigma, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly. If ignored and left untreated, it can have serious effects on your body and overall health. In agriculture, we tend to have a never-ending list of things to worry about, but if that worry turns into something more, it’s time to seek out help.

35%

of farmers meet the classification for depression​

From the outside, it may seem like all we do is grow, but we deal with an incredible amount of loss as well. Few things are more crushing than watching an entire year’s crop destroyed in a storm, disease moving through your herd or flock, or market prices tanking when you need to sell, and knowing there’s nothing that can be done.

Events and hardships alone don’t cause depression, but they can contribute to it if your symptoms are left unaddressed. And for those experiencing it, the highs of farming may not be enough to balance out the lows. When that starts to happen, it helps to have someone to talk to.

"One of my greatest fears is that I will be the generation responsible for destroying the family farm." - Quote from a Canadian Farmer

"I felt my only worth to my family was my life insurance policy." - Quote from a Canadian Farmer

The First Step

Take a Self-Assessment

If we don’t talk about it

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.

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.