Let's Talk About Farming and Mental Health

Let’s face it — farming can be an incredibly stressful and emotional way to live life.

We might pride ourselves on being tough and resilient, but we are human. We have the same vulnerabilities as everyone else.

With the spotlight on mental health this week, thanks to #BellLetsTalk, we dug into the archives for a few reminders of how we the need to care for ourselves and the people around us:

• National Survey Shows Farmers Need and Want Mental Health Help
  A 2016 study, led by University of Guelph population medicine professor Andria Jones-Bitton, revealed stress, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion and burnout are all higher among farmers than among other populations.
• Don’t Be Too Proud to Admit Farming is Stressing You Out, Your Health Depends On it
  For many people the “suck it up” strategy works in the short term, but in the long term many things get buried, which can have other impacts to your own health or family’s overall level of happiness.
• Health & Wellness: Small Steps to Managing Harvest Stress
  It’s during the most stressful times on the farm that we likely ignore the most important person to our business — we ignore ourselves. Alberta farmer Gary Chambers joined Shaun Haney for our inaugural Health & Wellness Podcast.
• No Time or Not a Priority? Looking After Your Own Health & Wellness
  “I just don’t have time.” How often do we use this as an excuse for not exercising, sleeping or carrying out an activity that we know would benefit our overall health and wellness? A chat with Dr. Marla Shapiro.
• Farming, Stress and Starting Tough Conversations on Mental Wellness
  Kim Keller encourages us to take a breath, send a text, call a neighbour. Remember that you’re not alone out there. Each farmer is or has gone through those same emotions and stress you may currently be experiencing. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you may need it.