Summary of Survey on Mental Health of Agricultural Workers

The Department of Agriculture developed a survey to assess the mental health status of agricultural workers in PEI. It targeted individuals involved in various roles within the agriculture sector, including owners/operators, employees, managers, technicians, and administrative staff. The survey was designed to update findings from a 2022 study, evaluate the current prevalence of anxiety and depression, explore key stressors, and compare mental health outcomes across different farming groups.

Results

A total of 117 responses were collected, with 82 completed entries.

Mental health results show that anxiety and depression are important concerns in this community. More than half of respondents (54%) reported at least mild symptoms of depression, meaning they are already experiencing signs of emotional strain. This includes 29% with symptoms of mild depression, 18% with symptoms of moderate depression, and about 6% with moderately severe or severe symptoms, which can seriously impact daily functioning. Only 46% reported minimal symptoms.

Anxiety results followed a similar pattern: 57% of farmers reported at least mild to severe anxiety, and within this group 13% experienced severe anxiety. Just 43% reported minimal anxiety, meaning that many farmers are living with ongoing worry, tension, or stress that may require support.

Demographic factors

Women who responded to the survey reported higher levels of symptoms of anxiety, and also somewhat higher levels of symptoms of depression, than men. Most of the other demographic factors examined were not clearly linked to anxiety or depression. However, some patterns were seen in the data. Participants younger than 25 years and those aged 55–64 years showed higher levels of symptoms of depression based on their scores. Participants who worked outside the farm also tended to report slightly higher levels of both anxiety and depression symptoms compared with those who did not. These patterns should be interpreted with caution, as they were not strong enough to suggest a clear trend.

None of the farm- or job-related characteristics were clearly linked to anxiety or depression. However, some patterns were observed in the data. Participants working more than 40 hours per week tended to report higher levels of depressive symptoms. Participants with more years of experience tended to report lower symptoms of depression compared with those who were newer to farming. These patterns should be interpreted with caution, as they were not strong enough to suggest a clear effect.

Stressors

Farm‑related stress was common. About 70% of respondents often or sometimes worry about money and whether they have enough to run the farm. Succession planning was also a major concern for 60% of participants. Nearly 92% said farm work often or sometimes interferes with their family or personal life, and 86% reported strong time pressure.

Isolation was also an important issue: 12% felt very isolated, 31% somewhat isolated, and another 21% a little isolated. Weather was another widely reported stressor, with 50% saying it affects their life “a lot” and 33% saying it affects their life “some.”

When the data were analyzed, isolation stood out as the strongest factor linked to mental health. Respondents who felt lonely or disconnected were far more likely to report depressive symptoms. Anxiety, on the other hand, was linked to several stressors, including financial worries, succession planning, time pressure, and isolation. This suggests that anxiety is driven more by ongoing pressures and uncertainty, while depression is more closely linked to social disconnection.

In an open‑ended question, respondents described their main stressors both on and off the farm. Farm owners often reported stress related to financial pressures, rising costs, unstable markets, labor shortages, and the responsibility of managing operations and maintaining a family legacy. Non‑owners highlighted workplace challenges such as unclear roles, job insecurity, feeling undervalued, and communication problems, including experiences of harsh or dismissive treatment.

Outside of work, both groups reported additional pressures such as family responsibilities, financial strain, and social isolation. These findings show that stress affects both work and personal life, with different experiences depending on a person’s role on the farm.

Support

In terms of support, most respondents reported feeling supported by their family and friends. Nearly half (48.9%) reported feeling somewhat supported by their family and 43.2% reported feeling very supported, while only 8.0% felt unsupported. Similarly, 66.7% of respondents felt somewhat supported by friends and 20.7% felt very supported, although 12.6% reported not feeling supported.

Support from the broader community and the provincial government was lower. More than one-third (38.6%) of respondents reported not feeling supported by their community, and 33.3% reported not feeling supported by the provincial government. Approximately half of respondents felt somewhat supported by their community (47.7%) and by the provincial government (57.5%), while only 13.6% and 9.2%, respectively, reported feeling very supported.

When asked about access to mental health services, about 58% said they have access, while 10% said they do not. 28% were unsure whether services were available, suggesting gaps in awareness. Among those who reported access, the most common services reported were the Farmers Counseling Program (38%) and healthcare providers such as doctors and nurse practitioners (28%). Smaller proportions mentioned crisis lines and other services.

Overall, the results show that respondents face multiple layers of stress, including financial pressure, long working hours, uncertainty, and social isolation. Anxiety appears to be strongly connected to day‑to‑day pressures, while depression is closely tied to feelings of isolation. Families remain the strongest source of support, with support from the broader community and government perceived as more limited. These findings highlight the need for improved awareness and access to mental health services, stronger community support, and efforts to reduce key stressors affecting farmers.

Help is available

Remember: You don't have to tough it out alone. Talking about mental health can help. FarmersTalk provides confidential, professional counselling services to farmers, farm employees and their families. These counsellors are trained to provide short term counselling or refer you to other professional services and resources in the community. Confidential service is available 24 hours a day by calling a counselling coordinator: 902-894-8006 or toll-free 1-800-736-8006.