Breaking the Silence: Understanding Stigma in Farming and Mental Health
By Lesley Kelly, Farmer and Co-Founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation
The narrative in agriculture is evolving. Caring for the land, animals, and equipment has always come first; now farmer well-being belongs on that list. For centuries, the culture in agriculture has valued resilience, self-reliance, and hard work. These are important qualities that have built our farms and fed our world. Yet these same values have, unintentionally, helped create one of the biggest barriers to farmer mental health: Stigma. Stigma shows up as silence, hesitation, fear and shame, making farmers feel they must carry their struggles alone rather than reach out for support.
A Century in the Making
The roots of those feelings - fear and shame towards mental health in agriculture stretch back decades, woven into the history of rural life. Farmers have been expected to endure hardship quietly, whether it was a drought, market crash, or a barn fire. Generations grew up hearing phrases like “tough it out” or “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” Asking for help, especially for mental or emotional struggles, was often seen as a weakness that could tarnish a family’s reputation or cause the community to question a farmer’s ability to manage their operation.
Even the most tragic situations were spoken about in hushed tones. In many rural areas, the whisper of suicide was exactly that: a whisper. Families grieving such losses would face heartbreak and silence. Causes of death might be softened or not discussed openly, reinforcing the message that these topics are shameful and therefore should remain private.
Language Matters
The words we use matter. In agriculture, language around mental health is often full of stereotypes, bias, and even prejudice. Calling someone “crazy,” “unstable,” or “not tough enough” for the farm sends a damaging message: That mental health struggles are a flaw in character rather than a health condition. This language discourages farmers from speaking up and makes it harder for communities to offer meaningful support.
Thankfully, more farmers and farm organizations are now talking openly about anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma and mental illness. And while language is shifting, the habits of dismissing or downplaying these struggles can still linger.
Family Dynamics, Privacy, and Risk
On many farms, the family is also the business. This can create an added layer of pressure, not just to succeed financially, but to uphold a legacy. A farmer may fear that speaking openly about mental health challenges could be viewed as letting the family down, creating worry, or even putting the farm’s future in question.
In close-knit rural communities, privacy can be hard to maintain. News travels quickly, and farmers may worry about being judged if others know they are struggling. This fear isn’t only about reputation. It can extend to concerns over losing land, market relationships, or even securing financial loans. For some, the risk of speaking out feels too high. It’s why some will go to lengths to remain unseen, parking their vehicle around the block from a mental health counsellor’s office, booking appointments far from home, or avoiding local services entirely.
The Impact of fear and shame about mental health
The consequences of fear and shame can be profound. Farmers experiencing mental health challenges may delay or avoid getting support at an early stage, when help can make a huge difference. Too often, they wait until they are in crisis. They might isolate themselves, rely on unhealthy coping strategies including heavy drinking or drugs, or push themselves beyond safe limits. Not reaching out for help because of fear and shame affects individual well-being, safety, and the long-term sustainability of farm operations.
Breaking Down Barriers
Helping reduce the feelings of fear and shame around mental health in agriculture requires both cultural change and practical action, both as individuals and as a community:
Open Conversations: Opening mental health discussions in everyday farm settings like at the coffee shop, in producer meetings, or at the rink makes it easier to talk before problems escalate.
Role Models: When respected farmers share their own experiences, it sends a powerful message that seeking help is a sign of strength.
Language Shift: Choosing respectful and supportive words reduces shame and invites understanding.
Accessible, Discreet Support: Offering online and phone-based services allows people who value privacy to still get help, such as:
AgTalk, provided by Do More Ag, is a free, private, moderated online peer-support community where farmers, farm families, and ag workers can connect anonymously to share experiences, ask questions, and access vetted resources anytime.
The Saskatchewan Farm Stress Line is a confidential, no-cost phone service staffed by trained responders who understand agriculture and can listen, help problem-solve, and connect you to mental-health, financial, or mediation supports.
Training and awareness: Equipping community leaders, ag professionals, and farm families to spot distress and start compassionate conversations saves lives. For example, Do More Ag’s Talk Ask Listen workshop is practical and ag-specific, offered in-person or virtually, and teaches recognizing stress, supporting within your means, listening without judgment, and connecting people to mental health resources and supports.
Moving Forward
The culture of fear and shame about mental health has been reinforced through generations of silence, whispered tragedies, and unspoken rules about toughness in agriculture. And just as farmers adapt to new markets, technologies, and weather patterns, we can adapt our attitudes toward mental health.
By speaking openly, showing compassion, and making mental health part of everyday conversations, we can create a culture where asking for help is as natural as calling the vet for a sick calf or repairing a broken piece of equipment.
Because in the end, the most important thing we grow on our farms isn’t just crops or livestock, it’s healthy, thriving people.