While the dry conditions have made for a difficult growing season, it can also take its toll on a farmer’s mental health.
According to a National Survey of Farmer Mental Health conducted at the University of Guelph, 40 per cent of producers in Canada said that they would feel uneasy about seeking professional help due to what people may think. The survey also showed that 75 per cent of farmers have mid to high stress levels.
Rebecca Rackow, Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatchewan Division’s Director of Advocacy, Research, and Public Policy Development, said some of the signs to look out for include anxiety, fatigue, burnout, depression, thoughts of suicide, addictions, stomach distress, headaches, irritability, withdrawing from people and activities that you would normally enjoy and forgetfulness.
Rackow said ways you can cope can include getting physical exercise or talking to your doctor about temporary medication. She added that, while the tendency is to withdraw yourself from people, the best thing you can do is socialize or talk it out with a support system.
“The best thing is to find other folks who you can engage with and have a way of managing that stress together. So, socializing or being with other people is often a very good, beneficial thing,” she said.
Even if you are doing OK, Rackow recommended checking on friends and family.
“Sometimes it’s easier to see it in other people than it is in yourself. So, if you see a friend struggling, by all means, in a gentle, gentle way, see if you can help them get help,” Rackow said.
Some of the supports out there for producers include the Farm Stress Line at 1-800-667-4442 or Mobile Crisis Services at 306-757-0127.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatchewan Division has its recovery college, the Hope Learning Centre. It has a course, which can be taken online, called “Talk, Ask, Listen”. It is put on in partnership with Do More Agriculture, an agriculture mental health advocacy group, and the course is specifically designed for farmers.
“People can not only learn some tools about how to deal with what they’re feeling but also meet other people who are also dealing with similar things. It can sometimes be a big relief from thinking that you’re going through this alone or you’re weak or something and you’re just not handling it like your neighbours,” Rackow said.
More resources can be found on the Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatchewan Division’s website, Do More Agriculture, and the Hope Learning Centre.