Pressure is a Privilege – Introspection in Agriculture

“What a privilege to be tired from the work you once begged the universe for. What a privilege to feel overwhelmed by growth you used to dream about. What a privilege to be challenged by a life you created on purpose.” – author unknown.

While on a webinar recently, a question on mental health in agriculture was raised by a listener. They wanted to know the panel’s thoughts on the epidemic of suicide and depression that agriculture is facing. In Canada, the rate of suicide in farm producers is 30 per 100,000, while in the US it rises to 52 per 100,000. These are 2X and 3X higher than the general population in each of these countries. On top of that, 25% of farmers had reported thinking about suicide, with a high prevalence of self-blame being the highest predictor. Lastly, while men are more likely to die by suicide, women are more likely to experience the thoughts and attempt.

Why, in an industry built on community and pride, are we experiencing this significant problem?

Legacy Stress

 As many farms enter into the 4^th or 5^th generation, the fear of “losing the family farm” is real. The statistics in agriculture identify that there is a 30% success rate on the first transition, a 10-12% success rate on the second transition, and the chance of going to the fourth generation drops to 3-4%. The fact that in Canada, only one in twelve farms currently have a designated successor under the age of forty identifies the true landscape of what is coming for the family farm dynamic. Whether we aim to place it there or not, the coming generations will feel the weight of the family legacy.

The average entrepreneur typically experiences two to three significant failures before a major win. In starting a business, first-time founders have roughly an 18% chance of success, and 20% of businesses will fail within the first year.

Why do we expect the next generation in agriculture to carry the weight of the operation without the space to get it wrong?

The best farmers I know got there because they took risks that could have honestly made them bankrupt just as fast as they made them successful. In the tech industry, you’ll often hear people talk about the need to ‘fail fast and iterate’. We need to break this stereotype that if the farm fails, it is a life failure. It is a business failure. And business failures can be okay If we don’t start treating it as such, we will not succeed in lowering the statistics.

Isolation Stress

 Rugged individualism is the belief that individuals should rely on their own efforts, resourcefulness, and independence rather than using external support to succeed.

In agriculture, we succeed or fail alone; that has always been the story. Only recently have producers started to look outside themselves to find others who can assist them in moving their operations forward.

Supports like peer groups, entrepreneurial coaching, and networking are starting to pop up across the industry. This requires farmers to shift long-held ideals and allow others in. That’s not always easy. But for those who can get comfortable being uncomfortable, it can be a saving grace in times of stress.

Rural communities are also shrinking, which is compounding the dilemma for many producers. Nights at the hockey rink or community centres are being replaced with Netflix, as these establishments are not surviving the urban shift of society. Even in towns where these services still exist, we are seeing a change as people sit glued to their phones instead of connecting with those around them. I cannot actually remember the last time I went to the movie theatre. Why would I when I have everything available from my couch?

This societal movement will continue to exacerbate the isolation issue in agriculture, and while I don’t have an answer to this, I’m mindful that I’m writing this while staring at a screen alone in my office.

Dependency Stress

 I have spent hours speaking to producers lately about “controlling the uncontrollable”. In an industry where our fields can be wiped out by the environment, our profits can be wiped out by geopolitical factors, and our costs can skyrocket due to wars across the world, many producers feel helpless.

We often hear that we are “price-takers”, not “price-makers”, and for the most part, this is true. However, after working with numerous operations across Canada and the US, I can firmly tell you that the farms that have a strategy for risk will continue to come out ahead of the rest.

We may not control the weather, but we control the costs, the insurance, and the ability to keep our net worth secure. We may not control the markets, but we control what our return on commodities needs to be, when we market, and how we mitigate risk through the tools available. And lastly, we may not influence policy, but we do have the ability to plan around our own farm and ensure that we can weather whatever storms are yet to come.

There is no answer at this time on how we can reverse or mitigate the risks of mental health in agriculture. I know that we all believe that profit or less volatility will reduce the problem, but this is a band-aid for a much larger issue. Until farmers can segment their identity (I am not my farm – I am me and my farm is a business), find professional and peer support, or take proactive business management to reduce the stressors, we are far away from reducing the risk.

I cannot sit here and tell you one answer will fix this, but I can tell you that agriculture is one of many ways to make a living. Having to leave the farm was hard, but what was harder was staying in a situation that was detrimental to my family and myself. The choice was easy when I broke it down into priorities in life. This may not be the same for everyone, but remember, pressure is a privilege if you let it be.

If you, or someone you know, is having problems mitigating the stress and anxiety of day-to-day life, there are many resources available. The first step is identifying the problem; the second is asking for help.

Immediate Support Resources:

• Canada: Call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline) or 1-866-327-6701 (Farmer Crisis Line).
• USA: Call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 1-800-FARM-AID.
• Saskatchewan: Call 1-800-667-4442 (Farm Stress Line).