By Bridgette Readel
In 2023, Mike Daniels, a farmer from Salem, Wis., decided it was time to make some changes. His stress level from his never-ending to-do list was so high he wasn’t spending time with his son during daylight hours, and he always felt worn down. His first step was to take the time to re-evaluate his farm and related businesses.
“Why do we in agriculture feel we have to be tough and never let anyone know we need help? Why are we seen as weak when we try to take care of ourselves, take vacation or simply take a day to make sure we’re OK,” he asks.
Years ago, fellow farmer Sean Stanford of Magrath, Alberta, Canada, found himself in a similar scenario: living in a constant state of stress from worrying about the weather, crop conditions and more. Stanford decided he wasn’t going to let anxiety dominate his daily life, so he found help through therapy and medication. His therapy required him to take time away from the farm, but it was a valuable step for his well-being.
Along the way, Stanford realized his experience could be helpful for others. Today, he takes the time for one-on-one calls to be a listening ear and offers advice to farmers and also visits with policymakers to make sure they understand what farmers face and what services they need.
“I take my mental health seriously and want to impress upon others that help is available,” Stanford says.
Don’t Ignore Chronic Stress
Lauren Van Ewyk, co-founder of the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance, says many farmers are experiencing chronic stress, as one pressure leads to another and piles on.
“Our brains become hyperalert and always aware that a crisis might be on the horizon,” she explains. “In that state, our brains fail to allow us to enjoy the moments we have built for ourselves and our families.”
Van Ewyk encourages farmers to step back from their farm long enough to look at things from a place of humility with a long-term view of their future.
“Self-care is not selfish or self-absorbed, but rather an opportunity to ensure your own tank is full so you can care for others when they need to depend on you,” Van Ewyk says. “Take a minute each day to decide how to be intentional about self-care and who can help you achieve that goal.”
