Current Projects

Farmer Mental Health

Qualitative interviews:

75 in depth interviews with Canadian farmers and industry workers conducted by Dr. Briana Hagen in 2016-2017 are being analyzed. From this dataset, we are exploring the stressors faced by farmers in Canada, gender differences, and the lived experience of climate change. Previous analyses from this dataset include help seeking and perceived stress.

Farmer Mental Health Surveys:

The online version of the Survey of Farmer Mental Health in Canada was conducted from February - May 2021. The national survey was available in both English and French, and gathered data on variables including resilience, anxiety, depression, burnout, coping, and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on farmers’ mental health.

We are currently collecting data from the mailed-out version Survey of Farmer Mental Health in Ontario. Participants were randomly selected from Ontario Federation of Agriculture members.

Ag Literacy Program:

The Ag-Literacy project will use an evidence-based approach to develop a targeted informational program to help inform general practitioners and other rural health care providers around the context of farming, and how it impacts mental health and help-seeking, which we hope will facilitate more comprehensive approaches to delivering mental health care to Canadian farmers.

In the Know:

Dr. Andria Jones and Dr. Briana Hagen created the In the Know mental health training program to help farmers learn the knowledge, skills and tools they could use to help deal with mental health issues. Formal evaluations have shown In the Know improves knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Andria and Briana are collaborating with agricultural, veterinary, and mental health organizations across the country to ensure the In the Know program is available to groups who want it.

Veterinary Mental Health

25 personal vet interviews from the 2016 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) conference are being analyzed using thematic analysis. The objective of the study is to understand why veterinarians practicing in Canada have elevated risks of suicide, depression, anxiety, compassion fatigue and burnout. Both the personal and professional stressors within the veterinary profession of Canada will be evaluated. This includes the impact of personal and professional relationships on the veterinarian and how mental health impacts provision of care for the client, the patient and the procedures and treatments. Furthermore, veterinary coping mechanisms, self-care strategies and resiliency practices will be identified. These practices will be evaluated to build more comprehensive strategies to combat mental distress and mental illness in veterinarians practicing in Canada.