We’ll be hearing more about farmer’s mental health

WITH 2019 LESS THAN two weeks old, an unusually large number of major agrifood stories are already jockeying for the spotlight.

They all deserve some degree of attention. After all, food is one of our most fundamental needs.

But the farm story that is most destined to grow throughout the year is producers’ increasingly documented problems with mental health, the efforts being made to bring these problems to light, and the research and strategies needed to address it and promote awareness. Before Christmas, the federal government addressed it. Then earlier this week, the province threw its support behind it. Here’s why. Nothing is more basic to the effective production of healthy food than healthy farmers. Health transcends commodities, income, production approaches and regions.

If farmers are under undo pressure physically or mentally – or financially, for that matter – expect some impact on the food system. It only makes sense.

And there’s no question pressure is there. The problem has been growing for ages. Traditionally, farmers didn’t discuss mental health much, sucking it up and reluctantly accepting it as part of the job.

As a result, it received little attention.

But as generations changed, vulnerability became socially acceptable and research showed the problem was real, more farmers came forward with tales of depression and anxiety.

It turns out that despite the idyllic appearance of the farming lifestyle, it is marked by all kinds of pressure.

Some of that pressure is caused by nature – weather and weather-related plant and animal diseases, for example. Other stress is inherent in the occupation, such as isolation and the need to find everdwindling labour. And for livestock producers, the inevitability of animal illness and mortality.

Still more pressure is applied by the public and by regulators, with demands that take time and money to implement, but are expected immediately.

I’ve likely missed some. But you get the picture – this is a huge issue.

Mental health was a focus of the first stop of the year in Guelph for provincial agriculture and agri-food minister Ernie Hardeman.

On Monday, he held a closed-doors discussion at the provincial building on Stone Road with farmers, farm leaders and University of Guelph researchers who have led the country in farm-related mental health studies.

It was said to be closed because of the sensitive nature of the discussions – some farmers were telling him about their experiences, and while the industry as a whole has moved towards openness about mental health, it’s still an individual matter.

After the meeting, the minister indicated he was all in. He said his ministry was launching a public awareness campaign to highlight farmers’ mental health challenges and encourage farmers to reach out when they need help.

“Farming can be a tough business, one that sometimes takes a toll on farmers and their families and yet we all know people who have been reluctant to ask for help,” he said. “We want to address the stigma that still surrounds mental health, and help people find the resources that can make a difference.”

He said this effort was part of the government’s commitment to invest $3.8 billion over the next 10 years to develop and implement a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions strategy – he called it the biggest commitment to mental health in provincial history.

The agriculture sector has huge issues on its plate as 2019 unfolds. These include trying to find ways to process last year’s corn crop, which suffered an unusually high level of spoilage from the wet fall, and dealing with a public that is changing its food preferences and increasingly worried about food prices.

But ultimately, it all comes down to farmers and their ability to produce food. Their health is priority one.