By Andrea McCoy-Naperstkow, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
In recent years, Canadian research has shown that farming is one of the most stressful industries. Approximately 45% of farmers report high stress, 58% meet the classifications for anxiety and 68% are more susceptible than the general population to chronic stress.
The reasons for that are many. Farmers face a wide range of pressures, many beyond our control, from volatile weather, global trade challenges and tariff uncertainty to high equipment costs, labour shortages and pests and diseases affecting our crops and livestock.
My husband and I farm in the Eastern Ontario county of Lanark near Carleton Place where we grow crops and raise beef cattle. I’m also a director on the board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and I think it’s fairly safe to say that there likely isn’t a farmer out there right now how isn’t stressed in some way.
Certain times are definitely more stressful on the farm than others. Right now is a prime example. Spring is the time when we’re in the fields getting our crops planted for the year, and timing is tricky during the best of times – you don’t want to be too early or you face the risk of frost and if you’re too late, your crops might not be ready for harvest in time.
A spring like this one that’s been wet and unseasonably cool makes planting even more challenging. That’s why paying attention to mental health and wellness is particularly important right now.
It’s certainly a topic near and dear to my heart, and it’s a high priority for our organization as well. Just recently, OFA hosted a webinar featuring Gerry Friesen, a hog farmer turned mediator, public speaker and author of the book “The Recovering Farmer”, where he spoke candidly about his own mental health journey.
For those who may be struggling, there are three key takeaways from Gerry’s presentation:
- You are not alone
- It’s more than ok to reach out for help
- There’s hope and there’s relief.
Gerry used to farm in southern Manitoba and about 20 years ago, long before it became more acceptable to publicly talk about the mental health crisis in farming, he was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and found himself struggling with alcohol addiction.
He helped co-found the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program in 2021 and found the writing of his book about his experiences therapeutic. Today, listening to music, having meaningful human connections and listing what he is grateful for are effective ways he copes with mental health struggles. What works for him, he noted, may not work for others, but he encouraged people to keep trying.
Farming by nature can often be a solitary career, which can make it even harder to stay connected or reach out and ask for help. It’s also more than just a career – it’s our home and lifestyle, one that we share with our families and that for many of us has been in the family for generations.
Overall, we are lucky to have more mental wellness resources tailored to the unique needs of the farming community available today than we even had just five years ago.
Chief among those is the Farmer Wellness Initiative, a confidential telehealth line that provides mental wellness support to all Ontario farmers, their families and their employees. It’s accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year at 1-866-267-6255 with counsellors who understand the needs of the farm community.
Agriculture Wellness Ontario, the Centre for Canadian Agricultural Wellbeing, the National Farmers Mental Health Alliance and the Do More Agriculture Foundation all have resources available to support farmers with mental health and wellness.
More information and links are available on the OFA’s Making Wellness Matter page: ofa.on.ca/resources/making-wellness-matter.
If you’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed, remember that it’s ok to feel that way – and it’s also ok to ask for help.
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-994-2578
comms@ofa.on.ca