Rethinking Mental Health in Agriculture: Just Because It’s Normal, Doesn’t Mean It’s Healthy

By Lesley Kelly, Farmer and Co-founder of The Do More Agriculture Foundation

This article was originally published with Crisis Services Saskatchewan

Just because something is normal doesn’t mean it’s natural, and it sure doesn’t mean it’s good for us.

Image from Farm & Food Care SK

Farming is a way of life and a business. It’s long hours, unpredictable conditions, and a deep connection to the land. It’s also a career filled with pride, purpose, and resilience. Over time, we’ve normalized a lot of things in agriculture that, if we’re being honest, aren’t healthy. We’ve come to accept that exhaustion is just part of the job, that stress is something we carry without question, and that emotions should be shoved down and dealt with later, if at all. We avoid hard conversations because “that’s just how they are.” We push through burnout because the work won’t wait. We’ve told ourselves this is normal.

Just because something is normal doesn’t mean it’s natural, and it sure doesn’t mean it’s good for us.

The Weight We Carry in Agriculture

Farming comes with an incredible amount of responsibility. We don’t just clock in and out; we live this job every single day. There’s no guaranteed paycheck, no “slow season” that truly lets us rest, and no way to control the markets or the weather. The stress builds up, and for many, it sits in our bodies like an invisible weight (tight shoulders, clenched jaws, and restless nights).

And yet, instead of acknowledging how heavy that burden is, we convince ourselves to push through it. We say, “That’s just farming.” Yet at what cost?

We wouldn’t expect our equipment to run without maintenance, yet we treat our own bodies and minds as if they can function indefinitely without care. We know stress and exhaustion affect our decision-making, our health, and our relationships, yet we keep going until we hit a breaking point.

It’s Time to Shift the Narrative

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and taking care of it doesn’t make you weak. It makes you a better and healthier farmer, parent, spouse, and friend. If we want to be in this industry for the long haul, we need to start rethinking the way we operate. 

Here’s how:

1. Rest Isn’t a Reward. It’s a Necessity.
   Rest isn’t something you “earn” after the work is done. The work will never truly be done. Taking breaks, sleeping well, and allowing yourself time to recover makes you more productive in the long run.

2. Feel Your Emotions Instead of Burying Them.
   We’ve been taught to “suck it up” and move on, yet emotions don’t just disappear. They show up in other ways: short tempers, resentment, and even physical health issues. Talking about stress, frustration, or grief doesn’t make you weak. It helps you move through it.

3. Have the Hard Conversations.
   Avoiding tough discussions whether it’s about succession planning, financial struggles, or family tension only makes things harder down the road. Facing them head-on may be uncomfortable, yet it prevents years of unspoken stress.

4. Let Go of the Lone Wolf Mentality.
   Farming can be isolating and you don’t have to do it alone. Lean on your family, neighbors, peer support groups, or professionals when you need help. There’s no shame in seeking support. It’s one of the strongest things you can do.

5. Listen to Your Body.
   That stress you’re carrying in your back? Those headaches that keep coming back? That exhaustion that never fully goes away? It’s not just “part of farming.” It’s your body telling you something needs to change. Pay attention to it.

A Healthier Future for Farmers

Farming will always come with challenges, yet how we handle them can change. We don’t have to accept stress, exhaustion, and emotional suppression as part of the job. It’s time to break the cycle and redefine what’s “normal” in agriculture.

Because at the end of the day, the farm needs you. And in order to keep showing up for it, you need to take care of yourself too.

Find more resources and crisis contacts at The Do More Agriculture Foundation - Find Support.