The agriculture industry in Canada is facing a mental health crisis and resources for dealing with the unique characteristics of the industry are lacking.
Mental health and seeking help still carries a great deal of stigma in the Canadian farming community, often associated with the term "weakness". (1)
As fewer and fewer young people are returning to the farm, with the average age of farmers at a record high of 55, these alarming new statistics pose yet another hurdle for young farmers and their farm families. (7)
Farmers are at a higher risk of suffering from mental health issues than any other profession in Canada (5)
A study showed that (5):
45% farmers have experienced high levels of stress
58% reported varying levels of anxiety
35% had experienced depression
Access to and seeking help from mental health services in rural communities holds many barriers for Canadian farmers including a lack of resources and stigma to do so (1,5)
As fewer and fewer young people are returning to the farm, with the average age of farmers at a record high of 55, these alarming new statistics pose yet another hurdle for young farmers and their farm families. (7)
Farmers are at a higher risk of suffering from mental health issues than any other profession in Canada (5)
A study showed that (5):
45% farmers have experienced high levels of stress
58% reported varying levels of anxiety
35% had experienced depression
Access to and seeking help from mental health services in rural communities holds many barriers for Canadian farmers including a lack of resources and stigma to do so (1,5)
Ag Leadership Program
"Our program acknowledges the unique stressors and works with farmers to help break the stigma by providing a rural resource for dealing with stress and anxiety"
- Gwendolyn Donohoe, PhD.
We are seeking individuals and farm families that want to become leaders in their communities and help break the stigma surrounding mental health.
Our unique 8-week program hosts farmers and members of the agriculture industry on a weekly basis for 2-hours (two-day retreats are also available).
Participants in the Ag Leadership Program will:
Our unique 8-week program hosts farmers and members of the agriculture industry on a weekly basis for 2-hours (two-day retreats are also available).
Participants in the Ag Leadership Program will:
- Improve communication and leadership skills
- Build confidence and self-worth and how to stand-up for their industry
- Provide techniques and coping strategies for how to live in the moment and de-stress
- Talk about the mental health issues faced in the agriculture industry and resources available to help
- Plan and prepare for the future “key stressors” faced by farmers and their families everyday in the ag industry
Working with horses to develop leaders and improve overall well-being can be more amenable for farmers and those in the agriculture industry, as they can relate to the equine business style more-so than visiting a therapists office or a attending a traditional leadership program.
Manitoba offers four locations in rural communities across the province with professional, certified BuildingBlock program facilitators (Winnipeg, Rivers, Portage and Grandview). These facilitators can relate to the industry, being in it themselves. This program is an important resource for farmers and their families. It improves the chances of becoming a long-term sustainable mental health resource in the industry, and helping to end the stigma of mental health treatment for up-and-coming young farmers.
At Connecting Through horses we also have our Mental Health First Aid training to assist farmers in crisis to get the professional help and resources they need.
At Connecting Through horses we also have our Mental Health First Aid training to assist farmers in crisis to get the professional help and resources they need.
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References
1 Adams, C., Aratoon, C., Boucher, J., Cartier, G., Chalmers, D., Dell, D., Dryka, D., Duncan, R., Dunn, K. 2015. The helping horse: How equine assisted learning contributes to the wellbeing of first nations youth in treatment for volatile substance misuse. Human-animal interaction bulletin. 1: 52-75.
2 Coffin, J. The Nguudu Barndimanmanha project – improving social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal youth through equine assisted learning.
3 Finnigan, P. 2019. Mental Health: A Priority for our Farmers. Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. 42nd Parliament 3rd session.
4 Frederick, K.E., Hatz, J.I Lanning, B. 2015. Not just horsing around: The impact of equine-assisted learning on levels of hope and depression in at-risk adolescents. Community Mental Health Journal. 51: 809-817.
5 Jones‑Bitton, A., Best, C., MacTavish, J., Fleming, S., Hoy, S. 2019. Stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience in Canadian farmers. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. (EPub Jun 13 2019)
6 Perkins, B. L. 2015. A pilot study assessing the effectiveness of equine-assisted learning with adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. 13: 298-305.
7 Statistics Canada. 2017. A portrait of a 21st century agricultural operation. Available online: [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/95-640-x/2016001/article/14811-eng.htm]
1 Adams, C., Aratoon, C., Boucher, J., Cartier, G., Chalmers, D., Dell, D., Dryka, D., Duncan, R., Dunn, K. 2015. The helping horse: How equine assisted learning contributes to the wellbeing of first nations youth in treatment for volatile substance misuse. Human-animal interaction bulletin. 1: 52-75.
2 Coffin, J. The Nguudu Barndimanmanha project – improving social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal youth through equine assisted learning.
3 Finnigan, P. 2019. Mental Health: A Priority for our Farmers. Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. 42nd Parliament 3rd session.
4 Frederick, K.E., Hatz, J.I Lanning, B. 2015. Not just horsing around: The impact of equine-assisted learning on levels of hope and depression in at-risk adolescents. Community Mental Health Journal. 51: 809-817.
5 Jones‑Bitton, A., Best, C., MacTavish, J., Fleming, S., Hoy, S. 2019. Stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience in Canadian farmers. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. (EPub Jun 13 2019)
6 Perkins, B. L. 2015. A pilot study assessing the effectiveness of equine-assisted learning with adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. 13: 298-305.
7 Statistics Canada. 2017. A portrait of a 21st century agricultural operation. Available online: [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/95-640-x/2016001/article/14811-eng.htm]