Articles under Mental health

Adapted from the Do More Agriculture Foundation

Agriculture is an industry that demands tremendous effort, resilienc, and adaptability. Farmers face numerous challenges, both external and internal, which can cause significant stress. Examples include:

1. Financial uncertainty: Fluctuating commodity prices, market volatility and unpredictable weather contribute to significant financial stress. Farmers face immense pressure to maintain profitability while managing high input costs and factors beyond their control.
2. Climate change: Farmers must grapple with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events, longer growing seasons and shifting precipitation patterns. These changes can disrupt crop yields, alter farming practices and intensify anxiety regarding the future of their livelihoods.
3. Isolation and loneliness: Farming can be isolating, with long hours working alone in rural areas. The lack of social interaction and support networks can contribute to feelings of loneliness and emotional distress, particularly during challenging times.
4. Workload and time pressure: Producers often work long hours, balancing multiple responsibilities, especially during  planting/seeding and harvesting. The relentless workload and time constraints can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, adding to overall stress.

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By Lesley Kelly, farmer and co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation

Although our societal and cultural norms focus on to-do lists and being busy equates to being productive and provides happiness, this assumption can lead to devastating impacts on our mental health and self-worth.

We’ve learned over time that through hard work, our productivity is associated with who we are, a key factor of what drives our success on the farm and even acceptance. As part of running a successful operation, productivity needs to be a priority. But it shouldn’t be the only priority. In fact, if you google “agriculture” and “productivity,” what comes out of the search is economics, growth, technology, sustainability but nothing to the effects of the person driving the productivity – the farmer. Read More »