b'We pride ourselves for being cham- ONLINE RESOURCESpions of the mental well-being of all Canadians, says Do More Ags Executive Director, Adelle Stewart. Several online resources exist to help people Stress is a part of life and we need abetter understand, cope with and access resources certain amount to perform at our peakpertaining to mental health challenges:abilities. Anyone can recover from aAcceleron Stress Management Resourcesmental health issueit takes self-care and, in some cases, professional help, butfor Growersit is not forever. Its crucial we talk aboutacceleronsas.com/ResourceLibrary/Pages/Farm-it so everyone can get the help they needState-of-Mind.aspxto live a healthy life. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Bayer Canada has partnered with Do More Ag, contributing $20,000 to theAdministration (SAMHSA)foundation to support its mission of pro- SAMHSA.govviding support and resources to farmersThe agency within the U.S. Department of Health seeking mental health assistance. and Human Services that leads public health The Canadian statistics paint a sober- efforts to advance the behavioral health of the ing picture of mental health in agriculture in that country, too: Canadian farmersAdelle Stewart serves as executive directornation. SAMHSAs mission is to reduce the impact are among the most vulnerable when itof the Do More Agriculture Foundation, aof substance abuse and mental illness in Americas comes to mental health according to aCanadian nonprofit that champions thecommunities.2016 study from the University of Guelphmental well-being of producers. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Ontario. Stress, anxiety, depression, emotionalbecause of their busy routines. Sure, not(AFSP)exhaustion and burnout are all highereveryone can find time for a 60-minuteAFSP.orgamong farmers than among other groups,workout at the gym every day. Thing is,AFSP raises awareness, funds scientific research, the survey shows. As well, Canadian farm- you dont need a gym membership toand provides resources and aid to those affected ers are more stressed than those livingget exercise. Can you walk instead ofby suicide.and working elsewhere. taking the ATV around the farm? When The survey found 45% of surveyyou check equipment, take a couple ofAnxiety and Depression Association of Americarespondents had high stress. Anotherlaps around the tractor to get your bloodADAA.org58% were classified with varying levels offlowing.Dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure anxiety and 35% with depression. The key is to employ these techniquesof anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring Overall, thats two to four timesbefore a mental health issue spirals into adisorders through education, practice, and research.higher than farmers studied in the Unitedcrisis, she adds.Kingdom and Norway, says study authorIn fact, a major sign of a mental Andria Jones-Bitton, a professor in thehealth crisis on a farm is the decline in universitys department of populationcare, be it care of animals, crops, the medicine. business in general, DeSutter says. Some of the producer comments leaveIf you feel confident and happy, thatWHAT THE STATS SAYlittle doubt about the impact their job andaffects the other areas of your life in a culture are having on them, Jones-Bittonpositive way. Mental health is 100% cor- 1in5adults are affectedsays. One said, We are not invincible, butrelated with the health of a business.we feel we must be. Another said, WhatFor those experiencing a mentalby mental illnessmakes me the most upset is that I haveillness or mental health crisis, help is everything I dreamed oflove, family andavailable, DeSutter says. The first point1in3farmers are uncomfortable a farm and all I feel is overwhelmed, outof contact should be your doctor, who of control and sad. can direct you to various local resources,talking about their mental health be it therapists, support groups or other Solutions avenues of support.The good news is that anyone goingIf youre on social media, reach outOver53%of rural areas have through a mental health challengewith the hashtag #FarmStateOfMind anda shortage of mental health can use simple self-care techniques totake part in the conversation. professionalsimprove their well-being. This is a great opportunity for anyone Go back to basics: sleep, eating,in agriculture to come together and voiceSource: Acceleronexercise and breathing, DeSutter says.how they feel. Were all in this together, Those are all things people struggle withHohmann adds.SW110/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2019'