The Rocky Mountain House Agricultural Society is encouraging local farmers and ranchers to take part in a new national survey on mental health in agriculture. The third National Survey of Farmer and Rancher Mental Health in Canada is being conducted by the University of Guelph in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW). It is open to producers across Canada, including those in Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County.
The survey asks about stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, resilience, and coping. Results will be compared with earlier surveys from 2016 and 2021 to track how farmer mental health has changed over the past decade. Researchers hope the findings will guide future support programs for agricultural communities.
Previous surveys found concerning trends. In 2016, 45 per cent of farmers reported high stress, 58 per cent had anxiety, and 35 per cent reported depression. By 2021, that rose to 76 per cent of farmers experiencing moderate or high stress, according to the University of Guelph. The 2021 survey also found farmers were twice as likely as the general population to think about suicide, with one in four farmers saying their life was not worth living or that they had seriously considered taking their own life in the past year.
The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing was founded after the first national survey in 2016. The centre runs the National Farmer Crisis Line at 1-866-FARMS01, which offers free, 24/7 counselling for farmers and their families. The current survey is expected to show whether recent mental health programs have made a difference.
The Rocky Mountain House Agricultural Society promotes agriculture and rural quality of life in the region. Local farmers and ranchers who want to share their experiences can find the survey online through the Rocky Mountain House Agricultural Society or the CCAW website.
