Putting mental health to the field test

Although once a rather taboo topic of conversation, mental health on the farm is becoming more talked about today thanks to advocates like Erica Leniczek.

Based in Marwayne, Leniczek has a bachelor of science in neuroscience psychology in kinesiology, a bachelor of education in science education and community health and is currently working towards her masters of arts in counselling degree.

On top of furthering her education, Leniczek runs “The Brand Erica” while also hosting The Rural Mindset podcast.

Through The Rural Mindset, Leniczek is able to bring awareness to mental health in agriculture with the primary goal of giving quick tips and tools to farmers, ranchers, or anyone in the agriculture sector who’s listening.

Living on her partner’s fivegeneration commercial cattle operation, these tips and tools come naturally as they can come in handy regularly.

“When you’re in the tractor and you’re finding yourself having automatic negative thoughts, worrying about yields or the cattle industry, or one of the other many aspects of the farm, different techniques you can use to distract yourself (can be helpful),” she said.

“I also talk about different ways to prepare yourself for busy seasons, whether that’s harvest or calving season, and those are different breathing techniques like ‘box’ breathing.”

Leniczek also explained counting one’s thoughts can be helpful on those long days in the tractor.

“Distractions like counting thoughts or counting backwards from 100 by 7’s … I’m also a really big advocate for physical activity as a distraction, or just a general health tool as well … there’s lots of evidence behind physical activity and positive mental health.”

Another big one Leniczek talked about was the importance of a good night’s sleep.

“I really advocate for farmers asking for getting help, as well as getting sleep,” she said. “Those are two really big tools they don’t realize they actually have to use all of the time. Journaling is also a great tool.”

For those producers stressing as they prepare for harvest, Leniczek said it’s important to keep your cool.

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