Study highlights gender gap and stress in farm mental health
New research from the University of Guelph shows that women farmers face greater mental health challenges than men due to social and workload pressures. The study was led by Dr. Andria Jones and Dr. Briana Hagen, who explored how stress affects farmers.
The research highlights that factors like climate change, economic uncertainty, and recent global events have already increased stress levels in farming. However, gender plays an important role in intensifying these challenges for women.
“What we found is that women’s contributions remain undervalued,” said Jones, professor in the Department of Population at the Ontario Veterinary College. “Their mental health is further strained by visible and invisible workloads, and the expectation to safeguard family and community well-being rests primarily on them.”
According to the study, women’s contributions to farming are often undervalued. Many women take on both visible and invisible responsibilities, including farm work, family care and community roles. This leads to heavy pressure on their mental well-being.
Researchers identified three key themes affecting women farmers: identity, workload and access to mental health support. Many women reported difficulty being recognized as farmers and often felt overwhelmed by the amount of work they handle daily.
The study also introduced the concept of the “triple shift.” This includes working on the farm, working off the farm, and managing responsibilities at home. These combined roles increase stress and reduce time for self-care.
Interviews with 74 farmers across Ontario farms showed that women frequently carry the responsibility of managing family mental health along with their own. Many also felt that support systems were limited.
Traditional farming culture remains male-focused, which continues to affect how women are viewed in agriculture. Language and imagery often fail to represent women as farmers, making recognition more difficult.
Statistics Canada reports that women make up about 30% of farmers in the country. While opportunities have improved over time, challenges related to equality and mental health remain.
The researchers stress the importance of shared responsibility in mental health care within farming families. They also encourage better awareness and inclusive practices to improve long-term sustainability in agriculture.
Support services such as farmer crisis lines and mental health programs are available to help farmers deal with stress and improve well-being by visiting the site https://ccaw.ca/in-the-know/.
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