Conditions are better than they were but there’s a long ways to go, yet

Ten years have passed since a ground-breaking study of mental health and agriculture was conducted, and referred to simply as “the survey of farmer mental health”. By 2018, the survey’s authors -Briana Hagen and Andria Jones-Bitton from the University of Guelph -were making presentations at conferences and workshops, sharing their findings. The elementary message from their work was that mental health among farmers, their family members and even those in agri-business was suffering, usually in silence and almost always in isolation. Worse still, people felt trapped by the sad tradition that all they could do was “push on” like their parents and grandparents did before them.

According to statistics from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), mental health issues come with a more than just their initial emotional and relational impact, resulting in a rippling effect to other areas of our lives. The CMHA states mental health issues cost the nation’s economy roughly $50 billion a year and affects 7.5 million Canadians or roughly 20 per cent of the population.

Arguably, farmers are affected in many ways unique to those outside of agriculture. Commodity prices, rising costs of production, land, fuel and equipment, market uncertainty, adoption of new technologies and an increasingly apathetic -even hostile -consumer base combine to put incredible pressure on producers -and those around them.

Now in 2025, there is growing awareness of this problem within the industry and more resources and programs with trained professionals working to provide help through counselling and guidance. More than that, they’re urging those who are feeling overwhelmed or lost to seek help, without judgement or fear of appearing weak. The good news is many of the stigmas and misconceptions associated with mental health are in the process of being dismantled, although there’s still a ways to go in changing habits in a long-standing culture that values stoicism and a perception of strength. The degree of isolation experienced by individuals as a hallmark of agriculture is a particularly hard challenge when it comes to accessing help, especially in Western Canada.

Fortunately, through efforts of professionals with The Do More Agriculture Foundation, the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing, the Farmers’ Wellness Initiative (with Agricultural Wellness Ontario) and CMHA’s “Takeaways Toolkit”, there are more resources in place to help those in need.

In Southern Ontario, farmers and first responders can find a degree of peace and a welcome respite at Three Oaks Cabin, located near Florence, Ontario. It’s a stirring gift from the Bergsma family, who farm in nearby Shetland, following the tragic loss of their son Dalles in 2020. Set amongst five acres of woodland serenity, it’s a place where those seeking help can take a step closer to finding what they need.

Legal obligations
The importance of prioritizing mental health within the agri-food sector has only recently begun garnering attention. At the same time, the CMHA highlights the formation of “The Standard”, which its website notes as a global first. It is referred to as “a set of voluntary guidelines and resources to prevent psychological harm and promote psychological health”. Although voluntary, the CMHA’s website states there are seven branches of law that hold an employer accountable to protect, promote and accommodate mental health and safety on the job. In fact, the ISO 45003:2021 Occupational Health and Safety Management -Psychological Health and Safety at Work -Guidelines for Managing Psychological Risks solidifies that pledge. Clause 6.1.2.1 states, “the organization (employer) should understand the underlying sources of harm before control measures are considered to improve the effectiveness of activities to manage psychological risk.”

The resources are available and just as with other aspects of health and safety on the job, it’s important to be proactive rather than reactive. To learn more about the impacts of mental health in agriculture, go to any of the website links cited above to contact the respective agencies, or call Elite Agri Solutions at 519 – 953 – 4479.

For further reading:
https://www.manuremanager.com/do-more-agriculture-launches-walk-with-me-campaign/
https://www.ontariofarmer.com/news/farm-news/farmer-mental-health-worsens-women-hit-the-hardest
https://farmtario.com/news/three-oaks-cabin-offers-respite-for-farmer-mental-health/