Farmer Wellness
IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.
You are not alone.
We understand the challenges farmers are facing and the stress that comes with it. Grain Farmers of Ontario is working to help you, our farmer-members, be successful in your business and we see a focus on mental health and well-being as part of that work.
If you or someone you know is in crisis call 911, or visit your local emergency room
Farmer Wellness Initiative
If you or someone you care about needs help, call 1-866-267-6255 from the tractor, from the barn, or from the house at the end of a long day.
24/7, 365 days/year.
A National Survey of Farmer Mental Health study involved 1100 producers from across Canada and the results revealed:
35%
met clinical criteria for depression
45%
were classified as having high stress
58%
met the criteria for anxiety classification
40%
reported they would feel uneasy about seeking professional help, due to what people might think
You can read the full study here.
We know our agricultural community needs help.
Grain Farmers of Ontario has developed a program to help our farmer-members and the agricultural community gain easier access to the resources they may need to navigate through difficult times. We see distinct areas that need attention:
Awareness
Helping to promote the idea that it is okay to ask for help when you are struggling. Many people struggle with similar issues and it is ok to ask for help.
Prevention
We provide resources such as articles, videos, webinars, workshops, and techniques to help our farmer-members manage the issues they are dealing with.
Support Resources
We’ve gathered options if you or someone you know needs support.
AWARENESS
It starts with you.
The Do More Ag Foundation
Rooted in strength: Fighting Isolation
PREVENTION
Tips for managing through difficult times
At a slow pace, breathe from your waist, in breath for 4 sec, breathe out for 6 sec.
Do this for 3 – 5 minutes.
Take a deep breathe and focus on what is around you.
Can you identify:
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can feel
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
This will help you feel present in your surroundings and reduce your anxiety in the moment.
When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed reach out to a close friend or family member.
This can give you a fresh perspective and help you to bring your stress level down in that moment.
Mentally scan your body to get a sense of how stress affects it.
Lie on your back or sit with your feet on the floor.
Start at your toes and work your way up to your scalp, noticing how your body feels.
Try to relax each part of your body.
Farmer Wellness Webinar Series
Our stress management webinar features topics that include shifting gears, how to think like a good “stress coper” identifying your stress escalators and defusing them.
Learn the daily behaviours, body habits and thought processes that influence our anxiety levels – and how to influence them to your benefit!
Does it take a long time to fall asleep? Mid-night awakenings? Sleep is not refreshing? Learn the most effective drug-free strategies to promote better, restful sleep.
Kathy Somers from the University of Guelph’s High Stress & Performance Clinic on her final webinar out of her four part series talks about how to stop or curb the worrying.hem.
Getting Help
It can be difficult to ask for help. This article from CMHA lays out several options for ways to find help. It also talks about how to help others who may be struggling.
FCC: Rooted in Strength
Mental Health Resources to take care of our families and ourselves
The Do More Ag Foundation
Help us Champion the mental well being of all Canadian producers
Kathy Somers’ SelfRegulationSkills.ca
Stress Management and High-Performance Clinic
Canadian Mental Health Association
Resources and support
Rural Mental Wellness Toolkit
Stigma free society provides resources for individuals living in agricultural and rural communities
Calm App
Calm is a meditation and mindfulness app that will help you reduce stress and sleep better https://www.calm.com/
Headspace
The Headspace app makes meditation simple. Learn the skills of mindfulness and meditation by using this app for just a few minutes per day. You gain access to hundreds of meditations on everything from stress and anxiety to sleep and focus. The app also has a handy “get some headspace” reminder to encourage you to keep practicing each day. https://www.headspace.com/ ($12.99/Month or $9.99/Year for students; iOS and Android)
Mindshift App
MindShift™ CBT uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety. (Free for iOS and Android) https://anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/
Present
Meditation app to bring more clarity, joy and happiness to your daily life. Our guided meditations are led by world leading mindfulness experts and are great for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced users. (Free for iOS) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/present-guided-meditation/id1282642033
Insight Timer
Meditation app that offers guided meditation from beginner to advances, meditation timer and mediation for sleep. (Free with subscription option for iOS and Android) https://insighttimer.com/
Self-Help for Anxiety Management (SAM)
SAM might be perfect for you if you’re interested in self-help, but meditation isn’t your thing. Users are prompted to build their own 24-hour anxiety toolkit that allows you to track anxious thoughts and behavior over time and learn 25 different self-help techniques. You can also use SAM’s “Social Cloud” feature to confidentially connect with other users in an online community for additional support.(Free; iOS and Android) https://sam-app.org.uk/
Happify
Need a happy fix? With its psychologist-approved mood-training program, the Happify app is your fast-track to a good mood. Try various engaging games, activity suggestions, gratitude prompts and more to train your brain as if it were a muscle, to overcome negative thoughts. The best part? Its free!(Free; iOS and Android) https://www.happify.com/
SUPPORT RESOURCES
Farmer wellness initiative – 1-866-267-6255
https://farmerwellnessinitiative.ca/
If you or someone you care about needs help, call 1-866-267-6255 from the tractor, from the barn, or from the house at the end of a long day. 24/7, 365 days/year.
Crisis Services Canada – 1-833-456-4566
- Phone, text or live chat on website
- For anyone effected by suicide. If you are suffering a loss, worried about someone, or if you yourself are having suicidal thoughts.
Visit their website here.
Distress and Crisis Ontario
- Live chat available on website
- List of distress centers available in Ontario
- They will connect you to a distress center nearest you.
Visit their website here.
211 Ontario
- You may call 211 any time of any day
- Offer live chat from their website and the ability to email
- Helpline and website provide information on referrals to Ontario’s community, social and health-related services
Visit their website here.
Bounceback – 1-866-345-0224
Bounceback is a free skill building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It’s designed to help adults and youth manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.
Delivered over the phone with a coach and online videos, you will get access to tools to support you on your path to mental wellness.
Visit their website here.
Therapist Directory
A list of psychologist and social workers that are practicing in Ontario, and have a farming background or experience in the industry.
By clicking on each practitioner you can read their bio and see information regarding their practice. If no practitioner is in your area, most listed offer other methods of communication such as video chat, email and phone calls.
Canadian Mental Health Association Locations by Districts
The Canadian Mental Health Association has many locations across Ontario. They each offer a variety of services. We have listed the CMHA locations by Grain Farmers of Ontario districts. Each listing includes the following: location, hours, and services available.
Wellness Together Canada
Resources and support for your mental health and wellness journey.
Wellness Together Canada was funded by the Government of Canada in response to the unprecedented rise in mental distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People are being challenged like never before due to isolation, physical health concerns, substance use concerns, financial and employment uncertainty, and the emotional dialogue around racial equality. Wellness Together Canada is here to support everybody on that journey
- One-on-one counselling
- Online community of support and coaching
- Self-guided courses and apps
- General mental health resources
Visit their website here.