Question Period Note: MENTAL HEALTH IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

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Farmers face many unique stressors due to the nature of their work in the agricultural sector. From extreme weather events, fluctuating prices and input costs, to trade disputes, animal disease, and more. While facing these day-to-day stressors, producers continue to support their livelihoods and feed the country. These challenges and uncertainties can result in unique mental health needs, leaving farmers more vulnerable than other groups in the population when it comes to mental health challenges, with higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion, burnout, and suicide. Research into farmer mental health has found that farmers struggle to reach out for mental health support due to stigma, accessibility issues, and the fact that mental health professionals do not always understand their experiences and way of life. An Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)funded national survey of farmer mental health found that many in the sector were struggling, with one in four farmers experiencing thoughts of suicide.
The jurisdiction on mental health is shared by federal and provincial/territorial (PT) governments and agencies, with PTs responsible for delivery of mental health care services. From the federal perspective, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada lead on mental health files. AAFC supports cost-shared PT mental health initiatives through Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) programming.
AAFC Support for Mental Health in Agriculture
In March 2025, AAFC provided $3 million in funding to launch the Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative (PMWI), a national challenge program to identify and scale innovative mental health solutions for producers. The PMWI aims to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and improve access to tailored support for farmers and other producers. The PMWI opened the stage 2 application portal on May 26, 2026, for the 20 semi-finalists to submit their proposals by August 26, 2026.
In February 2025, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) provided $1.5 million in funding over three years to the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW) to address a critical service gap to farming communities by launching the National Farmer Wellness Network. The network operates a 24/7 dedicated crisis line (1-866-FARMS01).
AAFC maintains a dedicated Mental Health in Agriculture webpage and works with partners to promote access to producer-specific resources, including the Farm Debt Mediation Service and PT programs through Sustainable CAP.
In May 2024, AAFC provided $1.08 million over three years (2023–2026) through the AgriCompetitiveness Program under Sustainable CAP to CCAW to fund five activities aimed as supporting mental health of farmers, including mental health literacy education and the development of mental health toolkit to support the sector in case of catastrophic events.
Farm Credit Canada Support for Mental Health in Agriculture
FCC maintains a “Rooted in Strength” publication, offering strategies to identify and manage stress and mental health challenges, as well as numerous other resources and articles on mental wellness that are updated continually.
Funding is provided to the mental health component of the 4-H Healthy Living Initiative, developing resources and activities for 4-H leaders.
FCC partners with the Do More Agriculture Foundation to deliver a series of mental health first aid workshops in rural communities across Canada.
FCC maintains an ongoing partnership with Au coeur des families agricoles in Québec to support training and education for their “Travailleurs de rang” program where mental health specialists function as a mobile mental health unit in rural Quebec for producers.

• The Government launched a three-year, $3-million national Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative to fund innovative solutions to help improve wellbeing, reduce stigma, raise awareness, and ensure producers can access the support they need when they need it.
• Farm Credit Canada provided $1.5 million to support the launch of Canada’s first National Farmer Crisis Line in February 2025 that provides free, confidential, and agriculture-informed crisis support and counselling to farmers, farm families, and agricultural workers.
• Under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, provinces and territories can use federal cost-shared funding to address region-specific pressures that can pose mental health challenges.