by Samantha Cornelissen, Health Data Liaison

Imagine lying in bed feeling exhausted after a long hard day of physical labour, yet sleep does not come. Your mind is a flurry of “What if?” thoughts that refuse to stop. What if I can’t plant in time? What if there’s no rain? What if the crops don’t grow? What if the harvest fails? How will I feed the cows? What if the market falls? How will I feed my family? What if I lose the farm? What if?….

Agriculture is working long hours, often in isolation, where you can rarely (if ever) call in sick; you get little to no vacation time, and there is a lack of control over key elements related to the work such as weather conditions, animal disease, market trends and government trade agreements. Add to this the pressure of high debt with no guaranteed income, and often a lack of understanding and appreciation for the work you do by the general population. These are only some of the stressors involved in working in agriculture.

According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Guelph, farmers experience a higher rate of poor mental health compared to the general population.[i] The chronic stress that famers experience is one of the main contributing factors to poor mental health – and it’s not only farmers who are affected. Spouses, families, and farm help, including migrant workers, are also at risk of experiencing poor mental health.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines mental health as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.” [ii] Knowing when someone is struggling with their mental health is not always easy, but changes to an individual’s behaviour can be an indicator that they are not doing well and may need support. These behaviour changes may include:

• Spending more time reviewing finances and planning for different outcomes 
• Social withdrawal – attending fewer or no social/family gatherings
• Feeling like they have no control of their emotions
• Not sleeping
• Not feeling motivated about their work
• Having a hard time making informed decisions in a timely manner
• Less time seeking information/ learning about industry, work.[iii]

Barriers to Getting Help

Stigma around mental health, particularly in small rural communities where everyone knows everyone, is not discussed and is considered to be a personal affair. In addition, accessing mental health supports in a rural community is hard. Not only are supports often located in urban areas, but finding professional help that understands the unique stressors and demands of agriculture has historically been a challenge. Support can be costly, as individuals need to take valuable time away from the farm, travel a fair distance to attend appointments and possibly pay for support. Although virtual appointments may be available, high speed internet is required to connect virtually, internet services, which are not readily available in rural areas. Migrant workers also face different challenges, such as language and cultural barriers and may fear losing their jobs if time off is requested. [iv]

Regular Maintenance: Engaging in Self Care

Just as a tractor requires regular maintenance, so do people. The ABC’s of self care – Awareness, Balance and Connection – is a great way to start engaging in self care.

Awareness – Pause and take notice of how you are doing today. How are you feeling physically?, emotionally?, and mentally?

Balance – Balance your time between Work, Rest and Play. This can be hard as the line between work and home does not always exist and work is sometimes 24/7 depending on the season. However, it’s important to try and get adequate sleep and to refuel your body by eating and hydrating regularly. “Play” is equally important. Take the time to engage in a hobby, sport or exercise.

Connection – Make time to connect with family and friends. Sometimes connecting with others can start the upswing back to better mental health, or connect with a professional mental health provider for extra support.   

Keep in mind self care is a very personal plan and is not one size fits all. Take the time to figure out what works best for you and start your regular maintenance schedule.

Supporting Others:

The Do More Ag Foundation describes three pillars when it comes to supporting others – TALK MORE, ASK MORE, LISTEN MORE. [v]

• TALK about mental health. Talking about both good and bad mental health normalizes it and reduces stigma, plus it’s a great way to check-in with people.
• ASK someone how they are doing. Ask specifically about their mental health, and give time for an answer.  
• LISTEN to the person. Don’t’ try to fix the problem. Instead “put their shoes on” and try to understand how they could be feeling this way.  

Working in agriculture is hard work. Non-existent lines between home and work, no control over key elements of the job, and working long days sometimes in isolation can take its toll on mental health. If you are struggling with your mental health, remember that sometimes the hardest thing to do is to say “I’m not ok” and to reach out for help.

If you are unsure on how to help someone, there are mental health resources available, such as ConnexOntario that can help guide you. ConnexOntario is available 24/7 and the System Navigation Specialists can help you find resources and services in your local area all across Ontario.

Mental Health Resources:

ConnexOntario www.connexontario.ca

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario: In The Know  https://ontario.cmha.ca/intheknow/

The Do More Agriculture Foundation https://www.domore.ag/

National Farmer Mental Health Alliance https://nfmha.ca/