Briana Hagen

Briana Hagen

Supporting farmer mental health

Farming can be a unique and rewarding occupation – but it can also be very stressful. Indeed, mental health data show anxiety, depression and other psychological afflictions being more common among farmers than in many other professions and demographics. Resources to help farmers manage mental health have not always been available or effective, though. Epidemiology researcher Dr. Briana Hagen has been working to change that through the Canadian Centre for Agriculture WellBeing (www.ccaw.ca). “I have found people in agriculture are very determined and resilient, and I had a skill set which could really help in a place where there were not a lot of resources,” she says. “Whether for practical reasons, such as distance to counsellors or time availability, farmers have historically been unable to access help when they need it. When they seek help, too, the solutions provided to them often do not take into account how farm businesses operate. If a counsellor says ‘I want you to take two weeks away from your dairy cows,’ that’s just not possible.” Hagen’s organization develops mental health services tailored specifically around the culture and operational realities of Canada’s farm community. To date, they have had a lot of success sharing mental health literacy training courses and educational resources, as well as expanding awareness of the importance of mental health. “We’re starting to see people take charge in their communities. Mental health literacy is also hitting the curriculum in agriculture colleges, which is a huge success,” she says. “Farming is a stressful occupation, and it’s uniquely linked with a person’s life. It’s a business where there’s not a lot of distinction between what you do and who you are. We need to create and deliver mental health services which are made for the people who are going to feed us.”