Farmer mental health: A recovery-oriented approach to support Alberta farmers for a sustainable future

Alberta is among Canada’s most productive agricultural economies contributing approximately $9.68 billion to the provincial economy in 2020. In fact, Alberta’s agriculture industry is a key driver of economic recovery in a post-COVID world. However, farmers face a range of occupational stressors unlike individuals in any other industry: unpredictable weather, volatile markets, animal-disease outbreaks, depopulation, long work hours, social isolation, intergenerational succession planning, mental health stigma, and limited access to healthcare. Collectively, these stressors threaten the mental health of farmers, which in turn could negatively impact the agricultural industry.