Producers, their families and employees can call 1-800-667-4442 to access 24/7 confidential mental health services from professionals trained in agriculture.
You can call about anything affecting your wellbeing, including financial stress, family pressures, anxiety, depression, burnout or concern for someone else.
The first step is communication. Call before the problem becomes a crisis. We respect confidentiality. There is no call display.
The Farm Stress Line can help by:
- Clarifying the problem or concern and work with you toward a solution;
- Connecting you with the appropriate organization, professional or program that best suits your needs; and
- Listening and supporting in a safe, neutral and non-judgmental environment.
The Farm Stress Line is managed by SaskAgMatters Mental Health Network Inc. a Saskatchewan based grassroots organization led by farmers and agricultural community members. SaskAgMatters also provides counselling services by registered mental health professionals with a background or training in agriculture.
SaskAgMatters has enhanced its local counselling services through a partnership with the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing to provide crisis support services from counsellors with agricultural training through the National Farmer Crisis Line.
Stress on the Farm
Rural families deserve credit for working hard to meet the challenges that are often beyond their control such as weather, pests, disease, high-input costs, volatile markets and low financial returns at the farm gate. Many Saskatchewan farm families have off-farm employment, which, in turn, may result in additional pressure which can lead to fatigue and burnout.
Farmers and ranchers who endure high levels of stress may find that it has negatively affected their health and has reduced their quality of life. High stress can compromise personal safety and affect family relationships.
Some symptoms of stress can include:
- Stomach distress
- Unexplained headaches
- Back pain/and or generalized aches and pains
- Muscle tension
- Chest Pain
- Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep
- Change in appetite
- Irritability or anger out of proportion to the situation
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble making decisions
- Inability to relax and/or concentrate
- Relationship problems, hard on self, family or others
- Depression/withdrawal
- Over reliance on over-the-counter medication
- Substance abuse
- Thoughts of and/or attempts at suicide
It's important to have a medical check-up and talk to your doctor if you are experiencing some of these symptoms
Managing Stress
There are ways of dealing with stress and we can learn to recognize and manage it. Some positives steps to take:
- Exercise
- Eat a balanced diet
- Take time for yourself
- Avoid alcohol and drugs
- Don't isolate yourself
- Separate those things you can control from those that are beyond your control
- Deal with problems - avoidance only complicates them
- Focus on solutions rather than dwelling on the negatives
- Base decisions on accurate information
- Set priorities and proceed step-by-step. Don't try and solve everything at once
- Talk to others - Often by talking to a trusted person, you can gain a perspective that may lead to practical solutions. You may come up with alternatives that you have not considered.