Producers encouraged to reach out when in distress
By Kate Ayers
Staff Reporter
Jobs in agriculture are rewarding but can also be extremely stressful. Producers should not hesitate to reach out for extra support when in need.
This summer, the sensitive topic of mental health challenges within the agriculture industry garnered significant attention. There were several campaigns across the country highlighting and addressing the well-being of producers – including the publicizing of research from the University of Guelph, rallies on social media and Better Farming coverage on the mental health of Canadian farmers.
And the discussion continues to evolve.
Kim Keller, a Gronlid-area farmer, is well aware of the farm suicide rate in Saskatchewan. But she believes some farmers fear judgement and can be too proud to seek assistance when needed. As a result, she initiated a discussion around mental health, as stated in a Global News article Monday.
Indeed, about 40 per cent of farmers said they would not seek help due to the stigma surrounding mental health, according to a survey of Canadian farmers.
Producers are popularly known for their resilience, which might also make it difficult for them to seek help.
“There’s a lot of fear of being judged. Being a young farmer, you don’t want to be judged as, ‘Oh, this guy has a problem,’” Mathieu Kelly, a 6000-acre cash crop farmer from south of Watrous, said to Global News.
But it seems that the industry is increasingly engaging in these important conversations and producers are opening up with their stories.
Mathieu and his wife Lesley, for example, shared their experiences with farm stress and mental health on social media. The response from other producers was positive and provided the opportunity for others to share their personal stories too.
Harvest is wrapping up in the Prairies. Producers have harvested over 77 per cent of crops in Alberta, for example, and more than 94 per cent of crops in Saskatchewan, according to provincial crop reports. But some crops are still standing in the field, which can be a cause for stress.
So, producers are encouraged to speak to someone if they are experiencing anxiety or depression during harvest season and year-round.
The Farm Stress Line and Mobile Crisis Services, which operate in Regina, are resources available to producers.
Farm Stress Line: 1-800-667-4442
Additional Resources: