More Sask. farmers calling Farm Stress Line

May 28, 2019

More than 700 producers used the resource last year

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The number of Saskatchewan producers using a telephone mental health resource is increasing.

Just over 300 farmers used the Farm Stress Line during Mobile Crisis Services’ last fiscal year. That figure has more than doubled, said John McFadyen, the organization’s executive director.

“Recently we did a report to the Ministry of Agriculture. I looked at the last fiscal year and there’s been a significant increase in calls,” he told SwiftCurrent Online on Saturday. “In 2017-18, there were 320 calls, and, in our last fiscal year, which goes to the end of March of 2019, we had 757 calls.”

The resource is available 24/7 for farmers and other rural residents.

Callers discuss such topics as mental health wellness, domestic issues and addiction issues, McFadyen said.

Producers also contact the Farm Stress Line because of ag-related topics.

Given the uncertainty surrounding parts of the ag sector, seeing a rise in the number of calls isn’t surprising, said Kim Keller, a Saskatchewan producer and co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation.

“We have a lot of producers who are facing a lot of extra pressures and stress whether it’s the weather, financial, or with respect to trade barriers,” she told Farms.com. “With all that going on, it could cause more farmers to reach out and look for support.”

The increase in the number of producers reaching out could also be because more of them are willing to talk about mental health, Keller said.

“More farmers now have an awareness about mental health and know the stress line exists at all,” she added.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm