By: Nancy Van Sas, Regional Communication Coordinator for Heartland Region
Why is there a stigma surrounding mental health, yet we will freely talk about our soil health? The first thing that comes to mind when many people think of mental health are mental health concerns or crises. However, mental health is a broad term referring to a person’s psychological, emotional and social wellbeing. It is worth noting that mental health concerns are common, can happen to anyone, and can be chronic or can occur during specific periods.
I challenge each of you to consider mental health as synonymous with soil health. At the root of soil health, we are looking at the biological, physical and chemical functions that form together to identify the health of the soil. This is not drastically different from looking at our mental health, as ultimately, mental health is the individual’s current state of mind. There are aspects of our mental health that we can control just as we do with our soil health. Stress, which is a major contributor of our mental health, can be influenced by both internal and external factors, many of which we can control by doing a few simple things.
Tips for Controlling Stress Levels
Successful Farming offers some tips for farmers to reduce farm-related stress: (https://www.agriculture.com/family/health-safety/9-tips-for-coping-with-farm-stress)
Have a farm business plan for emergencies: No one ever wants to think about the worst, but the act of planning for a disaster can reduce our stress level. OSCIA has a step-by-step emergency preparedness plan template available at https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/emergency_plan_fillable.pdf.
Communication is key: Ensuring all your business partners have the same overall business goals is setting yourself up for financial success, and as a result, reduced stress levels. To help facilitate this, Farm Management Canada is now offering the workshop Seeding Success: Assess, Act, Achieve to help farmers assess their operations in seven key business areas. To find out more information, visit https://fmc-gac.com/seedingsuccess/
Self-care is a key component of mental health maintenance: Farming can become an all-consuming lifestyle. Building in some time daily to unwind, relax and prioritize some necessary down time is very important to maintain good mental health. Consider putting time aside to do activities you enjoy, such as fixing old tractors.
Back to the basics of good sleep and healthy eating: Diets are not successful, nor are they maintainable. Instead, make a lifestyle change of eating regular, balanced meals filled with good, nutritious food. You can have your cake and eat it too, within moderation! Prioritizing sleep is critical for mental and physical health. Sleep, along with the food we eat, power our bodies. Regular, nutritious meals we can enjoy with our families can improve our mental and physical health.
We’re in this together: Reach out and talk to someone you see is struggling. Listening and sharing is sometimes the best medicine. If you’re struggling, know that you are not alone and there are resources available (see below).
Join the Movement!
Unfortunately, the stigma of being weak for seeking mental health resources is still present within the farming community. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather evidence that you are a taking the proper steps to ensure you have good mental health alongside the good soil health we all strive for. There are days devoted to ending this stigma. World Mental Health Day on October 10th and Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 25th encourage us to reach out and have these conversations.
Other Resources Available
In the Know (https://agriculturewellnessontario.ca/in-the-know/)
- Designed by the Canadian Mental Health Association at University of Guelph
- Information sessions available on-line or in person
Farmer Wellness Initiative (https://farmerwellnessinitiative.ca/)
- 24/7 free tailored counselling service to farmers and their families at 1-866-267-6255
The Do More Agriculture Foundation (https://www.domore.ag/)
- A non-profit organization devoted to advocating for mental well-being of Canadian farmers
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available. https://ontario.cmha.ca/provincial-mental-health-supports/