There's a real emphasis on mental health and agriculture today

Oct 15, 2024

Farmers are working hard pushing against the weather to get this year's crop in the bin.

As a result, they can also be dealing with an overwhelming amount of stress ranging from weather to markets, finances, equipment breakdowns and more, all at the same time.

Learning ways to recognize, release stress and reach out for help is key to avoid feeling overburdened especially when trying to stay focused when working with large farm equipment or unpredictable livestock.

Gerry Friesen is a mental health advocate and the chief administrative officer for the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program.

"I had a few conversations about this, this week where myself and others have talked about how having the need to reach out can become very overwhelming because it may feel strange to you. There's still a certain stigma involved, and so people are hesitant and stressed out about taking that first step."

Friesen says while it can feel overwhelming it's also very freeing and empowering to take that first step, because then the next step is a lot easier and now you are well on your way to mental wellness.

Friesen shares his own personal journey in a new book to help break the silence around mental health and farming .... The Recovering Farmer was released in May.

We now have multiple mental health organizations to link producers anonymously to mental health support agencies that understand farming and ranching.

The Do More Agriculture Foundation offers a variety of support systems provincially and nationally.

NATIONAL CRISIS LINE - If you are in crisis, please visit your local emergency department or call 911.

AgTalk: A Peer to Peer Support Platform - domore.ag/agtalk

SUICIDE CRISIS HELP LINE - Call or Text 9-8-8

Alberta - MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE - 1-877-303-2642 - albertahealthservices.ca or RURAL DISTRESS LINE 1-800-232-7288

Manitoba - MANITOBA FARM, RURAL & NORTHERN SUPPORT SERVICES 1-866-367-3276
www.supportline.ca

MANITOBA SUICIDE PREVENTION AND SUPPORT LINE - 1-877-435-7170 www.reasontolive.ca

MANITOBA FARMER WELLNESS PROGRAM - ?www.manitobafarmerwellness.ca or info@manitobafarmerwellness.ca 1-204-232-0574

Saskatchewan - FARM STRESS LINE - 800-667-4442 - farmstressline.ca/

MOBILE CRISIS SERVICES - 306-757-0127 - mobilecrisis.ca/

SASK AG MATTERS - saskagmatters.ca/resources

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Border View Farms is a mid-sized family farm that sits on the Ohio-Michigan border. My name is Nathan. I make and edit all of the videos posted here. I farm with my dad, Mark and uncle, Phil. Our part-time employee, Brock, also helps with the filming. 1980 was our first year in Waldron where our main farm is now. Since then we have grown the operation from just a couple hundred acres to over 3,000. Watch my 500th video for a history of our farm I filmed with my dad.

I started making these videos in the fall of 2019 as a way to help show what I do on a daily basis as a farmer. Agriculture is different from any other industry and I believe the more people that are showing their small piece of agriculture, helps to build our story. We face unique challenges and stressful situations but have some of the most rewarding payoffs in the end. I get to spend everyday doing what I love, raising my kids on the farm, and trying to push our farm to be better every year. I hope that I can address questions or concerns that you might have about farms and agriculture.