Mental Health
A Healthy Farm is a Safe Farm
This farm safety and mental wellness hub is dedicated to bringing together information and resources in one place, improving the health and safety of all Canadian farmers, farm families, farm workers and farming communities.
The content found on this page is not intended to replace medical help or professional advice. If you, or someone you know is in crisis, please visit your local emergency room or call 911.
This page has been brought to you in part with thanks to Farm Credit Canada.
Mental wellness is directly associated with safe farming practices, after all a healthy farmer is a safe farmer. This farm safety and mental wellness hub is a growing, changing resource. If you’d like to contribute, provide feedback, or would like more information, please contact CASA.
Organization and Resource Highlights
The following organizations and resources are available to support farmers, farm families, farm workers and farming communities through tough times, please read the descriptions and click through the links for more information.
If you are feeling like you have lost hope and are struggling to cope, if you are dealing with thoughts of suicide, or if you are worried about someone else, 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline is here for you. When you reach out, a trained responder will listen without judgement, provide support and understanding, and can tell you about resources that will help.
9-8-8 is here to provide moments of connection that create hope, support recovery and save lives. We help people connect to their strengths and find new ways to cope, live and thrive. Our vision is a Canada where suicide is prevented because everyone can access help when they need it the most.
Over half of Canada’s farmers report they suffer from anxiety—that’s almost 10 times higher than Canada’s labour market. Twenty-five percent of farmers reported experiencing suicidal thoughts in the past year.
National Farmer Mental Health Alliance Our goal is to help farmers thrive. We provide counselling services to farmers and their families. We also provide speaking and training engagements to stakeholders in the community along with a whole host of other supports. Contact us to learn more.
A serious injury, illness or a fatality on the farm changes everything — for the family and the business.
Threads of Life – the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support – is there to help. Through our unique peer-to-peer volunteer family guide program, networking events and information services we help people struggling with the results of a workplace tragedy know they’re not alone.
For support please reach out – Threads of Life is here for you. Programs are offered at no cost to individuals and families impacted by workplace tragedy.
Your Mental Health Matters
Even during tough times, you can take steps to manage your mental health. With Rooted in Resilience, you’ll learn how you can develop your ability to recover from adversity, regain your purpose and thrive.
Take care of yourself.
Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing
The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing brings together national and global leaders in the agricultural mental health field to conduct cutting-edge research to develop evidence-based community-informed programming and education to address wellbeing-related challenges amongst Canadian farmers.
Resource Highlight: Catastrophic Events Toolkit
CCAW toolkits are developed, directly from their research, for those supporting farmers & farm families during the toughest times in agriculture, like animal diseases, extreme weather, or financial crises.
More than 3 out of 4 Canadian farmers are experiencing medium to high stress
Employing business management practices can help farmers get through tough times such as market crashes or crop failures. Among farmers who use written business plans, 88% claim that it has contributed to peace of mind. Outcomes of
the project reaffirm findings of other recent research and add new insights into the ways that farm business management can be supported in ways that contribute to farmer mental health.
Find out more: Healthy Minds, Healthy Farms: Exploring the Connection Between Mental Health and Farm Business Management
The Do More Agriculture Foundation (Do More Ag) is thrilled to announce the launch of AgTalk powered by Togetherall. The peer support platform will be accessible across the entire Canadian agriculture industry. The platform provides a safe and anonymous space where anyone 16+ can connect, share, and receive support from a community of peers who relate to their unique experiences. With 24/7 bilingual clinical moderation, AgTalk, powered by Togetherall, ensures a secure environment for open discussions on mental health.
Farm Safety, Mental Wellness, and You
These graphics and resources connect farm safety and mental wellness. These resources are free to download, use and share.
CASA works with Provincial Partners across Canada to bring farm and ranch health and safety information to Canadians, including mental wellness resources. Find provincial-specific links below.
AgSafe BC
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
AgSafe Alberta
L'Union des producteurs agricoles* (QC) *Some resources available in English
Agricultural Health and Safety Network (SK)
Agricultural Alliance of NB
Keystone Agricultural Producers (MB)
We Talk. We Grow. (NS)
Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (ON)
PEI Federation of Agriculture
Below are links to resources and organizations that can help. Click through to read more about each organization and what they can offer.
(CASA does not own the rights to any of the resources linked.)
Provincal Links
- BounceBack
- Chimo Helpline
National Links
Agricultural Wellbeing course for mental health – The Wellbeing Course aims to provide free education and guidance on simple but effective cognitive behavioural techniques for managing depression and/or anxiety. The Course helps people with thoughts, behaviours, and physical symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Alcohol Change Course – Learn how to effectively manage your drinking, cope with cravings, manage lapses, and improve your wellbeing.
International Links
Other CASA Resources
Looking after your health, wellness and safety is one of the best investments you can make for the future of your farm and your family.
Supporting Farmers, Farm Families, Farm Workers and Your Community
Start a Conversation Today!
Farm Safety isn’t just about farmers. It’s also about Community Members, Agricultural Retailers, Educators and Medical Professionals. Are you an Agriculture Retailer wondering what you can do to make sure your customers are happy, healthy and safe? Are you a teacher who wonders what to do to help your students understand the hazards on the farm? Are you a Medical Professional concerned for your patients’ health and wellbeing? Are you a community member who just wants to be the difference for farm health and safety? You’re in luck! The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association has developed a Farm Talk Series of resources to help you start the conversation.
Share and show your support
Use these infographics and messages on social media to show your support!
- A healthy farm is a safe farm and that includes mental health! Keep well, stay safe and look after yourself. #CdnAg #FarmSafetyEveryday
- Farmers keep us all fed and supporting farmers and their families means supporting mental wellness, physical health and farm safety. #CdnAg #FarmSafetyEveryday
Research, Reports and Other Links for Providers and Researchers
This section features links reports, journal articles, publications and papers on farmer mental health and wellness. If you have a resource you’d like featured, please contact CASA.
Reports
Articles
- Mental Health and Substance Use of Farmers in Canada during COVID-19
- Male Farmers with Mental Health Disorders: a Scoping Review
- Addressing Farm Stress through Extension Mental Health Literacy Programs
- Farmers’ Mental Health: Perceptions from a Farm Show
- Assessing Mental Health Concerns of Spanish-Speaking Dairy Farm Workers
- Mental Health Rehabilitation in a care farm context: A descriptive review of Norweigian Intervention Studies
- Developming and Implementing Farm Stress Training to Address Agricultural Producer Mental Health
- A Contemporary Profile of the Mental Health of Girls from Farm and Non-Farm Environments
- International Perspectives on Psychosocial Working Conditions, Mental Health, and Stress of Dairy Farm Operators
- Mental Health During Environmental Crisis and Mass Incident Disasters
- Farmer Mental Health in the US Midwest: Key Informant Perspectives
- Farm-Related Concerns and Mental Health Status Among Norwegian Farmers
- The Mental Health of the Organic Farmer: Psychosocial and Contextual Actors
- Key Risk Factors Affecting Farmers’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review
- Research Trends in Farmers’ Mental Health: A Scopting Review of Mental Health Outcomes and Interventions Among Farming Populations Worldwide
- Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Young Farmers and Ranchers: A Pilot Study
- Risk for Depressive Symptoms and Suicide Among U.S. Primary Farmers and Family Members: A Systematic Literature Review
- Farmer Mental Health Interventions: A Systemic Review
- Psychological Morbidity in the Farming Community: A Literature Review
CASA Reports
