UAlberta research aims to boost farmers’ mental health

A researcher at the University of Alberta (UofA) says poor mental health has long been an issue in the agricultural community, although it’s not always visible.

Rebeca Purc-Stephenson, a psychologist and research associate at the university, says she is working on a series of studies over the next two years to identify the biggest challenges and stressors Alberta’s farmers face, in an effort to bring them more help.

She says farming is a very stressful job, especially because livelihoods can be threatened by severe weather conditions, rising costs of operations, and diseases.

“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 okay 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,” Purc-Stephenson said.

A #UAlberta researcher is looking to boost mental health support for Alberta farmers to help them cope with the complexities of “one of the most stressful occupations there is.” @ACSRC @uofa_augustana @AlbertaAg https://t.co/aWgTmCsbRR

— University of Alberta (@UAlberta) November 7, 2022

“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,” she added.

“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.”

Purc-Stephenson research is in collaboration with, “The Agriculture Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) and supported by $524,500 in funding awarded to the group by Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.”

The research also aims to shed the light on farmers’ experiences and stories, while exploring their needs — including mental health service.

She highlights a 2013 study that shows people who own and work on farms have higher suicide rates compared to people who do other jobs.

A 2020 study showed 35 per cent of farmers are experiencing depression, 57 per cent anxiety, and 76 per cent have moderate to high stress. Another study published in 2021 showed about 30 per cent of Canadian farmers thought about suicide in 2020.

Purc-Stephenson says as farmers are always working, it can cause many to keep their struggles to themselves. She adds that as a result, many don’t have time to deal with their stress, and this can impact their mental health.

“As mental health awareness has been a largely absent topic of discussion in agriculture, many farmers don’t know the signs of depression, anxiety or chronic stress, so they haven’t entertained the idea that they need help,” she explained.

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She adds farmers face distinct pressures in their jobs, leading to more stress.

“Work and home life can’t be easily separated — it’s hard to set it aside at five p.m. like many of us can — so family and worker dynamics can become complicated,” she said.

She also says farm work is relentless, which is problematic.

“Farmers have told us they feel time pressure. For wheat, barley, or canola farmers, harvest season might mean 14-hour days,” said Purc-Stephenson.

She notes it’s hard for farmers to rely on others for help, as many work in rural areas.

“You might have little opportunity to lean on a co-worker or neighbour,” she explained.

Opportunity to be heard

Punc-Stephenson says the research will give farmers the opportunity to talk about their experiences, especially when it comes to destroying partial or entire herds of animals due to contagious disease outbreaks.

“We want to explore the best ways to develop and deliver mental health supports to help them manage the impact,” she explained.

The research will also aim at “transitioning the business to the next generation.”

“The average age of a farmer in Alberta is 57, and many don’t have a succession plan in place, so they may struggle with how to navigate the decision-making involved,” she said. “We want to provide some tools and resources — not just for farmers, but for those who might work with them, like accountants and real-estate agents.”

Strategies to help farmers

The research will also include therapists to help farmers find strategies to cope with their problems, including open communication, as she says farmers often think therapists may not understand the pressures they face.

“If we remove barriers, and farmers can see someone is familiar with their difficulties, they might be more willing to seek some help,” said Purc-Stephenson.

The quality and quantity of the programs available for Alberta farmers will be assessed as part of the research, and checked after five years to examine the effectiveness of the research-based mental health intervention.

“It lets us find out what’s working or not working, so we can pivot if needed,” she added.

She adds the university’s Augustana Campus students, and a fellow researcher will also help with the research.

“Our campus is surrounded by rural communities and many of our students have lived on farms, so their involvement and input in this project is important,” She said. “They could connect with what they may have seen or experienced themselves.”

Tips to manage stress

She says farmers can manage stress by taking care of basic needs, such as getting some sleep. She says research shows having good sleep patterns can help people make better decisions, and be more alert during the day.

“There are times when farmers are busy and will find themselves working from morning to night, but ensuring that you’re getting seven to eight hours of sleep is really important for your body and brain,” she said.

She adds eating smart, such as foods rich in proteins and carbohydrates is also important.

“Don’t rely on coffee to keep you going. It can be a great way to enjoy a break, but it won’t give the energy needed to work throughout the day,” she explained.

Finally, she says taking a break and finding a hobby can help.

“Taking some time away from work will help you do your best work,” said Purc-Stephenson. “Creativity and good problem-solving usually comes during these moments.”