The life of a Canadian farmer might sound peaceful — living in the countryside, working outdoors, growing our food.
But scratch that bucolic surface, and the reality is much different, with high rates of depression and stress that leave farmers vulnerable to suicide, says a University of Alberta researcher.
Though largely invisible, poor mental health in the agricultural community "has been an issue for a long time," says Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, a psychology professor and research associate with the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities at the U of A's Augustana Campus.
With livelihoods that can be threatened by weather, plant or livestock disease outbreaks, rising operational costs and other complex, evolving factors, farming "is one of the most stressful occupations there is," she says.
By leading a series of studies over the next two years to identify the biggest stressors they're grappling with, Purc-Stephenson plans to bring more help to Alberta farmers, their families and veterinarians.
"We'd really like to shift the culture of farming to recognize that mental health is just as important as running the farm, and that it's OK for farmers to talk about it and seek help when they need it. And we want service providers to know how to communicate with farmers and what their stressors are," she says.
"While we won't be able to eliminate the ongoing work stressors farmers face, we can help them build resilience so they feel more capable of coping."
