Health and wellness in the agriculture industry

Find resources and information about health, wellness and managing stress. 

Owning a farm business can be very stressful. Farmers, producers, processors, workers and their families face unique challenges that can lead to health and wellness issues. If you are struggling with the impact of these stresses, you are not alone.

For help in a crisis

On this page

• Stress and the body
• Mental health and stress
• Mental health support
• Financial stress
• Financial support
• Other resources

Stress and the body

Stress is the body's response to a real or perceived threat. The purpose of that response is to ready the body for a reaction to the situation, whether it is facing it head-on or fleeing. This “fight or flight” response is commonly experienced when we encounter stress that our body perceives as requiring immediate action.

Working in the agricultural industry can be both rewarding and stressful. Farm workers and processors have a unique bond to their work which can make it difficult to identify and manage stress and accommodate the necessary self-care.

Some stress can be a good thing. It can motivate us to focus on a task or take action and solve a problem. In this situation, stress is manageable and can even be helpful.

When stress is unhelpful, people may feel overwhelmed or feel like they can't possibly fix the problem. It can be very hard to concentrate, make decisions, and feel confident when the amount or intensity of stress reaches an unmanageable level. 

Mental health and stress

Good mental health is a positive sense of well-being, and the capacity to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face.

Stressors (negative or positive) such as job loss, death of a loved one, decline in health, divorce or a new relationship may all cause distress for a person. One will often have reactions that are considered normal or reasonable according to the situation. These can become more serious when the length, intensity, or effect they have on the person's life are considerable and prolonged.

Over the course of any person's life it is highly likely that they will experience depression or other mental wellness issues themselves or have close contact with someone who does. The two most common mental health problems are depression and anxiety.

Mental health support 

There are a variety of agriculture focused and general resources available to you.

Agriculture focused resources

AgSafe strives to create a safe and healthy work environment in B.C. agriculture through outreach and an active program of education, training and consultation in all regions of the province.

• AgSafe’s Are You In Distress Info Sheet is a self-check-in tool that provides definitions and typical symptoms experienced at different levels of distress, together with suggested wellness strategies

AgLife provides resources, peer support, and training to help recognize and assist others who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide or mental health issues.

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association works with partners to support initiatives that equip producers, their families and their workers with the information and tools needed to make farms a safe place to live, work and play.

• Farm Stress Management
• Women in Agriculture: Understanding Stress
• Difficult Times: Stress on the Farm

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)  has collaborated with agriculture industry leaders to develop this web resource to make it easier for farmers to find support when and where they need it.

The Do More Agriculture Foundation aims to ensure the well-being of farmers and agricultural communities across Canada by raising awareness, fostering community, and providing training, workshops and resources tailored to the agricultural community's needs. 

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) builds strong relationships and shares knowledge and expertise with thousands of customers across the country. 

• Rooted in Resilience: Learn to manage your mental health

The Mental Health and Substance Use Service Map provides listings for all mental health and substance use services provided by the provincial government, provincial health authorities, and non-profit agencies throughout B.C.

Regional resources

To find resources organized by regions, review:

• Mental Health Resources for the Agriculture and Food sector, Producers and Processors (PDF, 200KB)

General resources

A personal well-being assistant app, Avail can help you monitor changes in your well-being using built-in resilience check-ups. Through the app, you are also able to connect directly with mental health professionals, and access information and resources related to mental health and wellness.

B.C. Virtual mental health supports are available for British Columbians who are experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges.

eMentalHealth.ca  is a website dedicated to improving health and wellness in youth and families. Through the portal, you can find health and wellness help in your area and access information sheets on a wide range of topics including stress, understanding mental health disorders, and strategies for caregivers.

Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC)​ is a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) which provides emergency management leadership and support to the B.C. health system, including all regional health authorities, PHSA and the Ministry of Health.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a globally recognized training program that empowers people to recognize when someone may be facing mental health challenges and know how to provide initial support .

Financial stress

Financial stress can affect any business in any sector. The agriculture sector is unique in that there are many factors outside the business owner’s control such as:

• Extreme weather events
• Crop losses
• Animal disease
• Declining market prices

Despite best efforts to manage these risks, they can cause significant financial stress for workers and their families.

Financial support

Find resources to help you manage risks and address financial concerns.

The Farm Debt Mediation Service offers financial counselling and mediation services to farmers who are having difficulties meeting their financial obligations. It is a free and voluntary service for both producers and for creditor(s).

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership BC helps producers who are experiencing financial difficulty. Producers may qualify to access business planning services and coaching from a qualified business consultant for financial analysis and specialized business planning.

Other resources

Farm management

Agriculture business and market development programs are available to support farmers and food processors to grow their business and more effectively market their products.

AgriShield is a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation platform for Canadian farmers developed under the leadership of Farm Management Canada. This tool can help you identify and assess risks, create an action plan, and access resources and tools to help manage risks.

Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of advice for Canadian farm producers and their families. Their mission is to provide farmers with the best possible guidance and support, and to advance agribusiness in Canada.​

Climate and disaster recovery 

Animal Health Emergency Management has a variety of animal welfare resources, protocols, and training. Includes an animal health emergency workbook that applies to several kinds of disaster emergencies.

The BC Wildfire Recovery for Agriculture (PDF, 1.5KB) is a disaster recovery workbook containing steps for the process of disaster recovery. While wildfire specific, this guide has many tips and resources that apply to a wide range of disasters.

Read the Ministry of Agriculture and Food response to flooding to find out supports and resources that are available to help B.C.'s agriculture producers recover from floods and mudslides.