Despite growing awareness of mental health in the agriculture community, stigma is still a barrier to finding support. The 2019 Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food found that 45 per cent of Canadian farmers were experiencing high levels of stress. However, 45 per cent stated that even if they needed help they…
Read MoreBy Dylana Twittey, The Gateway – The Official Student Publication at the University of Alberta Research by a University of Alberta professor aims to help combat high levels of stress, depression and suicide in Alberta’s farming and agriculture industry. The research is being done by Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, a professor in the department of social sciences…
Read MoreWe’ve given our buddies help with processing cattle, or picked up parts for them because we were in town anyway, but how often do we take the time to ask how they’re really doing? Last year the Centre for Suicide Prevention (CSP) added a character to their ever-growing list of personas. This is Clay. Clay was developed…
Read MoreWelcome back to another episode of The Bovine! (If you haven’t heard, that’s the name of our monthly audio show.) On today’s episode, hear: ABP Delegate and Medicine Hat area farmer, Craig Lehr, with an update on the dry conditions in his area; Akash Asif from the Centre for Suicide Prevention on men’s mental health,…
Read MoreWe are all in this together Farming and ranching have long been one of the more stressful and dangerous occupations. In addition to the physical demands in the field, there is something we don’t talk about enough and that is the emotional labour and demands of our industry. The constant worry about the animals in our…
Read MoreThree years after winning Farmer of the Year, and starting to speak publicly about personal experiences with depression, Peter (Pete) and Paula Hynes had a conversation that led to the start of a global initiative. It was during Farm Safety Week, when the Hynes duo realized Ireland loses more farmers to suicide than farm accidents….
Read More