Sarnia

Gauging Ontario Farmers' Mental Health And Stress Issues

A University of Guelph Associate Professor is trying to get a clearer picture of the stress situation among Ontario's agricultural producers.

Doctor Andria Jones-Bitton says there's lots of anecdotal evidence out there that producers are suffering from mental health and stress issues.

She's hoping her on-line survey will gather important information about the mental wellness of agricultural producers in the province.

Jones-Bitton calls it a baseline study - something she hopes to be able to build on to find ways to support producers and contribute to their overall well-being and health.

The on-line survey can be done on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Jones-Bitton says it will take producers about 15 minutes to complete.

And she emphasizes the survey is strictly anonymous.

(Link to on-line survey)

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Andria Jones-Bitton calls this survey a baseline study to get a more accurate picture of what's going on.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ANDRIA-Stress-1.mp3"][/audio]

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Jones-Bitton is doing an on-line survey of producer stress and resilience in Ontario.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ANDRIA-Stress-2.mp3"][/audio]

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Jones-Bitton doesn't see it as strange that a veterinarian would be involved in a survey of producer stress.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ANDRIA-Stress-3.mp3"][/audio]

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