A decade ago, two researchers from the University of Guelph, Dr. Andria Jones and Dr. Briana Hagen, conducted a study on the mental health of farmers across Canada. This included a survey, with over 1,100 farmers responding.
“It came back with some very jarring statistics,” said Amelia Cassimatis, Bilingual Engagement Manager with Agriculture Wellness Ontario (AgWO), part of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
Almost half of respondents (45%) were found to have high stress, and over a third (35%) had depression. Farmers were also found to be two times as likely to have experienced suicidal thoughts (ranging from a brief, passive thought to actively planning to die by suicide).
Jackie Ralph, Youth and Adult Awareness and Education Supervisor with CMHA Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addictions Services, said these statistics are alarming, but not necessarily surprising.
“There’s a quote we reference a lot in our work at CMHA by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen that says, ‘The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to be able to walk through water and not get wet.’ How can farmers be surrounded by so much uncertainty and stress and responsibility and not be affected?” Ralph asked, noting volatile markets, extreme weather, and other challenges farmers must address regularly.
The University of Guelph study led to In the Know, first delivered in 2019. Since 2021, the program has been delivered in Ontario through AgWO. Cassimatis explained that In the Know was “really designed to be an introduction to mental health,” specifically geared toward those in the agriculture industry.
Topics including stress, anxiety, depression, suicide, substance abuse, and how to start a conversation around mental health are each discussed for about 20 to 30 minutes, over the course of a few hours.
With the program open to anyone agriculturally adjacent, a wide range of people have participated, including veterinarians, agricultural product salespeople, municipal workers, etc.
“We get a lot of people from financial institutions as well; money’s stressful for everybody, so they will often encounter a farmer who could be in distress, struggling with finances,” Cassimatis said.
She added, “The cool thing about this program is it’s really tailored to the ag community. So, all the examples, all the tools, everything that we use is relatable and practical.”
While other mental health programs might offer suggestions like ‘take time off of work,’ In the Know recognizes that option isn’t feasible in farming.
“It’s really working with the community and giving them tools to be proactive, and then what to do in case they have to be reactive,” Cassimatis explained.
Those tools include grounding techniques, breathing exercises, and encouragements to connect with others, such as reaching out to neighbours, going to community events, or being a part of community organizations.
Ralph has facilitated In the Know sessions, both virtually and in person. She said a big part of the education is helping participants see opportunities for meaningful conversation in everyday farm life.
“When we remind them that talking about your mental health can happen on a road trip to pick up parts, while cleaning out the stalls, or fixing a piece of equipment, it gives them more comfort and confidence in doing so,” Ralph said.
While mental health might feel like a taboo topic, she asserted, “Stigma can only exist out of lack of knowledge…. The more we learn about the stats and signs and how we all have mental health and that it’s not an exclusive membership club, stigma is decreased.”
Of course, different people will have different comfort levels, she added.
While some people might be concerned that they’ll be put on the spot to share at a program, Ralph said that’s not the case at all. She instead compared it to attending a dinner party.
“Whether it’s being the life of the party or just chilling in the background enjoying the music and the food, you can come and attend in whatever capacity works for you. Sharing our stories is such an incredible way to learn about the topic of mental health, but there is no pressure to do so,” she said, adding that rather than asking participants to share their stories to serve as examples, the course has pre-written scenarios for the group to engage with.
AgWO hosts virtual In the Know sessions monthly.
Ralph noted, “You literally can take the course from the cab of your tractor, your couch, or your kitchen table.”
During In the Know sessions, there’s a strong encouragement for participants to utilize the Farmer Wellness Initiative, another program offered by AgWO.
This is a completely free and unlimited counselling line for any farmers, farm workers, and their families in Ontario. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Services are offered in English, French, and Spanish.
The line is available for anyone aged 16 and older, though youths aged 12 to 15 can also access it with parental consent.
“They don’t have to disclose what they’re talking about, but they do need the green light from the parent,” Cassimatis said.
She noted the service is primarily by phone and video, although some areas offer in-person sessions, subject to counsellor availability.
When a person calls in, they’ll go through a confidential intake process. They’ll be asked for their name, where they live, and the reason they’re calling. There is no insurance or farm membership number required; the information that is collected is for demographics tracking.
“The only farm-identifying question a person will be asked will be if they identify themselves as part of the farming community. If they answer yes, they will be connected to support,” Cassimatis said.
If a person is identified as being at immediate risk, there is a crisis counsellor available 24/7.
Those not in crisis but seeking ongoing support will be connected with a counsellor within about three to five business days. If a person doesn’t mesh well with a counsellor, they can request a change.
Cassimatis urged, “(Whether) you’re feeling stressed one time, or continuously and you need ongoing support, just call in.”
Sessions can be booked during evenings and weekends, recognizing farmers might have tricky schedules to accommodate. That’s also why the sessions are primarily offered by phone and video call, as that removes transportation as a barrier to seeking help.
“They can take (the call) from the tractor if they want,” Cassimatis said.
Available therapies include family therapy, couples therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and others. Participating counsellors are registered psychotherapists, counsellors, and social workers, and all “are either from an ag background themselves, or have been trained specifically in ag literacy, so they really understand what the community is facing,” Cassimatis said, noting counsellors are kept up to date on current events impacting the ag community.
Another newer program offered by AgWO is the Guardian Network.
It begins with a seven-hour suicide prevention training based on the Sentinel program out of Quebec. Cassimatis said it is best be likened to a mental health first aid course.
“These are typically very passionate individuals who care both about agriculture and mental health, and we teach them to identify the signs of mental distress; how to react to someone who might be at risk; … what to do if they are experiencing suicidal ideation; and then how to connect them with appropriate resources,” she said.
“Of course, it does not qualify anybody to be a counsellor; it’s only a single day of training. But the idea is, it acts like a bridge to get that person to their next step and get them connected with support.”
Graduating Guardians can also opt in to ongoing training.
Each month, AgWO holds Guardian Connect sessions online, offering current Guardians continued learning. Following a formal instruction portion, participants can discuss the content and connect with other like-minded people. They can also attend an annual symposium, typically held each October in Guelph, to hear from mental health speakers and connect with fellow Guardians in person.
Cassimatis said Guardians will often advocate with AgWO to bring forward and promote trainings within their towns.
“Word of mouth is so powerful in this community. We find that when one person takes it and they get really excited about it, and they tell their network … those (tend) to be the most engaging trainings,” she said.
Effective engagement has been a big strength for AgWO as it has developed its programming.
“One thing we were hearing when we were only offering In the Know is, ‘Farmers don’t have three hours to take this training.’ Absolutely understandable,” Cassimatis said.
In response, AgWO developed the Growth Workshop series. Currently, there are three sessions that range from 30 to 60 minutes: Introduction to Mental Health and Agriculture; Navigating Stress in Agriculture; and, the newest one, Preparing for Uncertainty.
Cassimatis said several agricultural organizations have hosted the workshops for their members.
AgWO is currently piloting a new program, International Agricultural Worker Wellness. It’s being tested in Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, and Windsor-Essex.
These workshops are specifically geared toward international agricultural workers and the unique stressors they face, such as being away from their families; experiencing cultural differences; and possibly experiencing difficult living situations.
Offered in English and Spanish, topics include team building, building community, and managing loneliness.
“We’ve found this to be very successful,” said Cassimatis, adding that they’ve already delivered the program to several hundred workers and are looking to expand the program across Ontario.
Whatever your situation, Cassimatis, Ralph, and their colleagues want you to know that there’s help available and you are not alone.
“Our goal is to just break down the stigma around mental health,” Cassimatis said, noting farming is hard enough without trying to do it alone.
“We want people to feel comfortable talking about it and checking in on each other. The ag community is so supportive and encouraging to each other, and incredibly hard workers. They support each other in so many different ways – mental health shouldn’t be any different.”
All five of AgWO’s programs are offered free of charge, thanks to funding through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP).
For more information about the programs offered by AgWO, visit agriculturewellnessontario.ca.
To access the Farmer Wellness Initiative support line, call 1-866-267-6255.
While making the initial call can be daunting, Cassimatis encourages everyone connected to the ag community to do so.
“Our ultimate goal is to provide support, mental health education, and counselling to Ontario’s agriculture community; to make it more accessible, and ultimately break down that stigma that exists in many communities, but very prominently in the agricultural community.”
