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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2020
You are the farm’s most important asset You look after everything else but how well do you look after your own health and wellness?
by MYRNA STARK LEADER ABBOTSFORD – The keynote presentation at this
year’s Pacific Agriculture Show was reflective of the times as Sean Brotherson, a professor and extension family science specialist from North Dakota State University, discussed the realities of health and mental wellness down on the farm. “The one thing we don’t list on our balance sheet is health and the health of our relationship. It’s a low-cost but high-value priority,” says Brotherson. Brotherson grew up on his family’s 500-head
Utah cattle ranch and has extensively researched rural families and stress and developed educational programs to address the concerns. He first experienced depression at 17. He didn’t want to do the things he loved and withdrew but, as a teen, he thought there was something wrong with him. The fact he might need medical help didn’t occur to him, but in the end it was exactly what he needed. While he was assigned to look out for disease, pests and the effects of weather on his family’s small peach orchard in Utah, he was less adept at looking out for himself. He says producers are much the same today – acutely aware of the health of what they produce but not always paying the same attention to their own well-being. Now married with eight children, he jokes that he
‘gets’ stress management but more seriously he says farmers have added stressors. They have seen and will continue to see a lot of transitions which can take a toll on their health. He says if you feel “ready to freak out,” that’s a big indicator of too much stress. Brotherson encourages individuals in agriculture to do a daily personal stress inventory, rating physical, mental and emotional health on a scale of 1 to 10. “In agriculture, people like to keep problems to
themselves. Agriculture also tends to have its own culture and language but independence is not always best,” adding that his depression at 17 was something he couldn’t manage alone. He says producers’ stresses are more than the norm and include things that simply emerge as well as risks that are difficult to anticipate, such as a new pest or trade issue. Another difference between producers and the general population is that, often, producers are involved in legacy businesses with decades or even a century of family ownership behind them. They’re grounded in a profound sense of place. This means that a producer’s identity is frequently wrapped up in the farm. This is a challenge. “They practice the 11th commandment. ‘Thou shalt farm,’” he jokes, while warning that stress signs are warning signs. “People take care of their equipment so that they
can rely on it when they really need it but your health is your most important asset and the health of everyone in the operation, so good stress management is good farm management.” He says signs of stress can be emotional or
physical, from a toothache, shaking, upset stomach and tiredness to being impatient, angry, anxious, discouraged, withdrawing from others and having difficultly concentrating. There are also behavioural signs, such as difficulty sleeping or being unable to make decisions. Relationship signs include picking fights, a lack of satisfaction and communication difficulties. Stress signs are warning signals to slow down
and focus on health and wellness, but finding suitable coping methods can also be a challenge for farmers. Brotherson’s wife doesn’t let him eat after 8 pm, for example, because he eats his stress. “There is a very common sense with people in agriculture to feel, ‘There’s something wrong with
me. I’m inadequate,’ but this isn’t really real,” he says. “Vulnerability is necessary if you want to improve your health.” He says the first step to coping with stress is identifying the issue causing the stress and the effect the stress is having on the lives of others. Step two is evaluating what resources could be helpful and what’s available, then making a decision about how to move forward. “Others need to be involved in this process,” he
says, because if you’re stressed you may not be making the best decisions and you may also not know all the options, like his 17-year-old self. A key when examining resources is being open to change or something new. “People in agriculture tend to focus first on
informal relations, family, friends and then go to outside resources,” says Brotherson. “I can say that I wasn’t used to dealing with a mental health professional at 17, but that was very helpful for me.” The last step is to actually use coping strategies. Among the resource he offers is a 12-step hand out designed with producers in mind. This and other resources are available at [
https://bit.ly/2SSVrdy]. “Stress relief suggestions like taking a bubble bath doesn’t work with most farmers,” he says. Coping methods can include rest and renewal, health communication and sharing with others and a focus on relationships. “Social support is the number one resource,” he
says, even though it may be the hardest to request. Ignoring the matter, procrastinating,
catastrophizing, bottling it up, withdrawing, pushing people away or doubling down on work is not helpful, he adds. “I’d encourage people to start with three coping
strategies that you can start today and pick a wellness partner to hold you accountable or do those things with you,” he says.
HELPING YOU MANAGE FINANCIAL STRESS
THE FARM DEBT MEDIATION SERVICE THE FARM DEBT MEDIATION SERVICE
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
T ARE THE
1-866-452-5556.
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