Part of our annual series for Canadian Agricultural Safety Week
MANITOULIN—The fields do not wait. The sun rises, and the work begins. It does not matter if the farmer is exhausted, if their mind is heavy with worry, or if their heart aches from another year of uncertainty. The land demands its due, and they must answer. The life of a farmer is not one of simple toil; it is one of devotion—an inheritance passed down through generations, bound by seasons of hope and despair.
A farmer wakes before dawn, the sky still dark and full of stars. There is frost on the ground, the promise of a long day ahead. The weight of debt, of failing crops, of rising costs and falling prices presses on her shoulders. There are days when she feels strong, capable, alive with purpose. And then there are days when the burden feels too great to carry, when the loneliness of the work seeps into her bones, when the silence of the fields becomes deafening.
They are not alone. Across Canada, farmers and producers are grappling with the invisible wounds of mental illness—stress that does not ease, anxiety that does not subside, exhaustion that no amount of rest can cure. The unpredictable nature of farming—fluctuating market prices, climate change, government policies and trade disputes—creates an environment of chronic stress. Unlike many other industries, agriculture is not just a job; it is a calling, a way of life. The pressure to succeed, to feed their communities, to keep the land in the family, to provide for generations to come, is immense. And for some, the weight of that pressure becomes unbearable.
| Read our other stories for 2025’s annual Canadian Agricultural Safety Week: |
| • Green Bay farmer learned a hard lesson about cattle safety • Gordon farmer recounts harrowing tale of being struck on his tractor |
The Growing Mental Health Crisis in Farming
Farming is an act of faith—planting seeds without knowing what storms will come, what droughts will burn, what markets will falter. It is no wonder that those who work the land are among the most vulnerable to mental health struggles. Studies have shown that farmers experience anxiety, depression, and suicide at rates higher than the general population. According to research by Jones-Bitton et al. (2020), financial instability, isolation, and the ever-present fear of losing their farm are among the key contributors to declining mental health in the agricultural sector.
Recent economic shifts, including the March 6, 2025, tariffs imposed by the US government, have added another layer of strain. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) warns that these tariffs will not only disrupt trade but also exacerbate financial stress for farmers, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and substance use.
In recognition of this growing crisis, on March 6, 2025, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, has announced the $3 million Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative (PMWI), a three-year program designed to address mental health in the farming community. In partnership with Impact Canada, this initiative seeks to develop innovative, data-driven solutions to improve producer well-being, reduce stigma, and provide timely support.
“This initiative is about more than just funding—it’s about saving lives,” Minister MacAulay stated. “Our producers do so much for us, often at great personal cost. Their mental health should not be something they have to sacrifice.”
The PMWI is now accepting applications until June 3, 2025, at 2 pm EDT. Eligible participants include for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, as well as individuals registered to do business in Canada. The initiative will follow a three-stage process, with selected applicants receiving funding to develop, test, and implement their solutions. Ultimately, two grand prize winners will be awarded $500,000 each to scale their projects and expand their impact.
The Impact Canada PMW initiative underscores the urgency of addressing producer mental health with innovative, community-driven solutions. Canadian producers face unique mental health challenges, many of which are compounded by the relentless uncertainty of their work. Unlike urban occupations, farming is not merely a livelihood; it is a legacy, a way of being, an unbreakable bond with the land. The pressure to maintain productivity and profitability, to uphold generations of tradition, is immense.
AAFC is actively seeking collaborative, novel approaches to improve producer mental well-being. Proposals must consider the distinct challenges faced by producers across Canada, including youth, women, Indigenous, and equity-deserving farmers. By leveraging local community leaders and culturally sensitive resources, this initiative has the potential to profoundly transform mental health in Canada’s agricultural sector.
What is Being Sought?
AAFC is looking for solutions that: Are innovative, with a strong potential for meaningful impact—rethinking existing solutions and processes to better serve producers; foster producer community engagement—designing and adapting solutions based on the voices and needs of Canadian farmers, ensuring inclusivity and diversity; and focus on prevention and early intervention, addressing social, economic, and environmental stressors that contribute to mental health struggles.
Key Focus Areas
Solutions must align with at least one of these guiding principles: Raising awareness and communication: developing innovative campaigns and educational programs that promote mental health, encourage early intervention, and introduce coping mechanisms; reducing stigma: normalizing conversations about mental health, breaking down barriers, and encouraging farmers to seek support; improving access to tailored support: creating personalized mental health resources that address barriers such as location, access, and time constraints; community resilience and mental health promotion: cultivating supportive farming environments that acknowledge social determinants of mental health, especially for those facing systemic challenges (e.g., racism, socioeconomic barriers, isolation); and providing long-term support: designing sustainable mental health solutions that integrate wellness, farming practices, and broader aspects of farm management (e.g., succession planning, family support) to ensure continuity across generations.
How Will Solutions Be Assessed?
Proposals will be evaluated based on: innovation: Novelty and originality of the proposed approach; applicability to Canadian producers: relevance to a particular farming community and scalability across Canada; concept design: a well-thought-out plan that directly addresses mental well-being and farming stressors; partnership development and producer engagement: strategies to leverage and enhance existing strengths within producer communities; impact measurement: realistic, measurable outcomes demonstrating tangible benefits for producers; and solution adoption and scalability: a clear pathway for implementing and expanding the solution within the agricultural sector.
Changing the Culture
The hardest battle is not against the land, nor the weather, nor the markets. It is against silence. Stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking help. Many farmers feel the pressure to be strong, to push through hardships without acknowledging their struggles. They have been taught that resilience means enduring alone. But true resilience is knowing when to ask for help, when to lean on community, when to recognize that even the strongest roots need nourishment.
Through initiatives like the Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative, the Farmer Wellness Initiative and ongoing advocacy, Canada is taking critical steps toward ensuring that farmers like Anna no longer have to suffer in silence.
Farming is built on resilience, on care for the land and care for one another. Now, it is time to extend that same care to those who work it.
For farmers, their families, and agricultural workers struggling with mental health, support is available:
Farmer Wellness Initiative (Ontario): 1-866-267-6255 (24/7 mental health support in English, French, and Spanish)
Do More Agriculture Foundation: Offering mental health resources, peer support, and training for agricultural communities (domore.ag)
