May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month
With the month of May recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, and the week of May 4-10 designated as Mental Health Week in Canada, Farms.com thought it appropriate to remind farmers that mental health is a farmer issue too, and multiple resources are available for the ag community.
A study from 2021 showed that most producers are facing some sort of mental health challenge.
The survey from Dr. Andria Jones at the University of Guelph, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, discovered that 76 per cent of farmers were experiencing moderate or high levels of stress.
Dr. Jones and her team are currently collecting survey responses for the third national survey of farmer and rancher mental health in Canada.
And Rochelle Thompson, a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph, plans to publish findings about how climate change is impacting farmer mental health later this year.
Canadian farmers have access to multiple mental health resources.
Many of which are tailored to the ag industry.
The Do More Agriculture Foundation, for example, through its AgTalk app, supports peer-to-peer communication for people in the ag sector.
In addition, the organization hosts workshops to help participants recognize stress, and its AgCulture Program trains mental health professionals about the uniqueness of ag and related mental health challenges.
The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing conducts research and develops programming to address mental health challenges in agriculture.
And in 2025 the organization launched the National Farmer Wellness Network Crisis Line.
Anyone in Canadian ag, whether a farmer, family member, employee or spouse, who dials 1-866-FARMS01 (1-866-327-6701) will connect with a trained mental health professional trained in ag stressors who understands the challenges facing Canadian agriculture.
Support is available in English and French.
The National Farmer Mental Health Alliance provides mental health support to farmers and their families through tailored counselling services.
Therapists are trained in Agriculture Informed Therapy to help them understand unique challenges farmers face, and strategies farm families can use to navigate difficult times.
And Farm Credit Canada’s Rooted in Resilience publication helps readers take action to support mental health.
While many of those are national resources, targeted supports to provincial ag communities are available too.
Province | Available Support | Description |
British Columbia | AgLife Network | Offers resources, peer supports, and training to recognize signs of mental health challenges. |
Alberta | AgKnow | Working with stakeholders to identify needs and approaches unique to Alberta farmers and their communities. |
Saskatchewan | SaskAgMatters Farm Stress Line | Offers 24/7 confidential mental health support for farmers and families. 1-800-667-4442 |
Manitoba | Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program | Facilitates confidential, no-cost access to farm-focused consellors. |
Ontario | Agriculture Wellness Ontario Farmer Wellness Initiative | Provides mental health support, education, and community for Ontario’s ag sector. 1-866-267-6255 |
Quebec | Au coeur des families agricoles | Offers family wellbeing services for agricultural workers. |
New Brunswick | Farm Talk Care | Provides confidential, no-cost counselling by counsellors trained in rural and agricultural issues. |
Nova Scotia | We Talk. We Grow. Farm Family Support Line | Offers training to help farmers manage stress, and emphasizes that the farmer is the most important asset. 1-833-754-3692 |
P.E.I. | FarmersTalk.ca | Helps connect farmers with confidential support at no charge. 902-894-8006 or 1-800-736-8006 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | AgriCare NL | Provides farmers with access to an agriculturally informed model of care. |
If you or someone you know requires immediate mental health support, the national 9-8-8 mental health line is available.
Farms.com has also put together a list of mental health and suicide prevention resources.