Taking Care While Feeding the World: Farm Mental Health
By Damien Kurek
Battle River-Crowfoot MP
Farmers and ranchers are some of the hardest-working people in the nation. With a sunup-to-past-sundown schedule, our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to raise and grow the food we need and love. These jobs are critical to our supply chain and can often go unrecognized for the substantive role they play in our economy. Without our producers, Canada’s food supply chains would grind to a halt, grocery store shelves would be empty, and the world would have far less of the food it needs from a strong and stable supplier.
Mental health is an important subject, and common-sense Conservatives have been hard at work advocating for and bringing awareness to the necessity of treating mental health as health care. The subject of mental health is close to the hearts of many Canadians, but it has a particular impact on the agriculture sector, where stigma around addressing mental health challenges exists. As Danielle and I remain connected with our multigenerational family farm, this time of year with harvest season kicking off, we know it is essential for everyone involved to be mindful of mental health challenges that can come with the stresses of agriculture, on and off the farm.
I recently met with Agknow; an Alberta-based organization focused on reinvigorating our farming sector with an emphasis on mental health. They are bringing a rural Alberta outlook to mental health on the farm. They are showcasing that it takes a community to work through the unique situation our farmers and ranchers are in, which includes providing the support people need during these busy seasons. The numbers show productivity, safety, and good mental health are products of each other. A successful harvest, seeding, or calving season is crucial, and your mental health during it is key. This goes beyond the farm, as it is a stressful time for everyone, as kids head back to school and routines are reestablished after a busy summer. The challenges with the costs of living and the economy, political concerns, family and community stresses, and as the days get shorter… now is the time to be reminded of the need to ensure we take our mental health earnestly.
Here in Alberta, Agknow is one group of many, small and large, working to end the stigma associated with mental health and ensuring resources are available. Conservatives were proud to lead the way in calling for a 9-8-8 suicide-prevention hotline which was established last year. You can find more resources, both local and national, by visiting a webpage I have dedicated to this: www.damienkurek.ca/mentalhealth.
I want to wish farmers across Battle River—Crowfoot and across Canada a happy harvest season and I hope you are blessed with a bountiful harvest. And on behalf of a grateful nation, I also urge you to take the time to care for yourselves during your important work. It is a good reminder for all of us to be good neighbours and reach out to care for those around us, break the stigma around mental health, and support someone in their time of need. If you need help, please be brave enough to ask for it.