34
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • AUGUST 2017
Impacts of farming under stress often hidden Advocacy group working to increase awareness and develop programs to help
by BARBARA JOHNSTONE GRIMMER
WINNIPEG – In many countries, farming has been identified as high risk for stress, with a higher suicide rate than most other occupations. “There is a huge problem with suicide among farmers,” says Michael Rosmann, a farmer, clinical psychologist, professor and writer from Iowa. Stress has always been part of farm life. Producers are used to economic and market fluctuations, disease outbreaks, isolation and long hours, but now a more variable climate, increased regulations and record- keeping requirements as well as public scrutiny have added to their worries. Researchers at the
University of Guelph published a study in 2016 based on a survey of more than 1,100 farmers. It found that 45% of farmers experienced high levels of stress, while 58% suffered anxiety and 38% experienced depression. This was two to four times the rate found in other countries, including the UK and Norway. Unfortunately, the stigma
of showing weakness, especially around mental health issues, has kept farmer stress hidden from view. Many are reticent to seek help,
especially in small communities where everyone tends to know everyone else’s business.
Rosmann’s life’s work is dedicated to promoting services that protect the welfare of farmers and ranchers, particularly regarding their mental health. He attributes his success in this field more to his farming background than anything else. “It is important to farmers that counsellors have a knowledge of agriculture and its challenges,” says Rosmann. Successful mental health
programs are grassroots efforts that start with raising the awareness of family members, friends and farm organizations so that they can identify and support farmers and ranchers from the beginning and build a cohesive network that has links to multiple partners and agencies who can take the support to the next level if needed.
Human stress on the farm
has significant effects on families, communities, future generations and even animal welfare.
When we think about animal welfare, we may not consider how the health and welfare of our livestock may affect the mental health of the farmer or rancher, or conversely what impact human well-being may have
FILE PHOTO
on livestock. Good animal welfare is a priority for many, but it isn’t possible without first caring for the well-being of livestock producers.
One Welfare “One Welfare” is a term that
many public health agencies and animal health and welfare groups, including the World Organization for Animal Health, are embracing. It links the well-being and mental health of farmers and ranchers
and other animal caregivers with animal welfare. It is often an adjunct to the concept of “One Health.” The first International One
Welfare Conference took place last fall in Winnipeg to bring together the many diverse groups interested in this topic. The conference was organized by the Manitoba government and funded by Growing Forward 2. The partnering sponsor was the National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council (NFAHWC), an advisory council consisting of federal and provincial government representatives as well as industry members interested in animal agriculture in Canada. Other sponsors included
the Public Health Agency of Canada, Manitoba Pork, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian Red Cross and various agricultural
commodity and health organizations. Topics included animal hoarding, animal abuse and neglect, psychosocial health and agriculture, compassion fatigue by first responders and veterinarians, and how we can collaborate for the best possible outcomes for producers and the animals in their care. NFAHWC is concerned that mental health and stress can impact animal welfare, and has formed a working group with the focus of increasing awareness, with the goal of encouraging the development of programs to support producers, farm families and farm workers and their wellbeing in the face of the pressures of agriculture. The mental health of producers is important to the sustainability of the agriculture sector.
Disturbed Farmland to Reclaim? TL1000R Individual Round Bale Wrapper
Cut feed losses and increase quality with the TL1000R from Tubeline. This inidividual round bale wrapper helps producers put up high quality silage with low investment and high gains.
The TL1000 is equipped with a wrap counter which allows you to track the numbers of bale rotations ensuring consistent layers of plastic from bale to bale.
^TL1000R For more information contact Tubeline or call your local dealer.
Buy native plants grown locally for:
Contact Michael 604.530.9300
^TL1700SR ^TLR5000 ECV ^TL5500 ECV ^TL6500 ECV
24555 32nd Avenue | Langley, BC V2Z 2J5
www.NATSnursery.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
