Descriptive Research on the Mental Health Profile of Agricultural Business Owners: Psychological Distress, Vectors of Resilience and Use of Mental Health Services

Gabriel Gingras-Lacroix

Impact

  • This project improved understanding of mental health among Quebec agricultural business owners - a group that can be difficult to reach and is often underrepresented in research.

  • It highlighted key stressors (such as rising costs, workload, and debt), showed that men may be less likely to seek help, and confirmed that resilience is linked to lower psychological distress.

  • These findings can help tailor mental health services for rural communities, improve outreach strategies (especially for men) and guide future research approaches that better involve agricultural workers from the start.

“This postdoctoral fellowship allowed me to consolidate my expertise in research within rural communities, particularly regarding psychological distress and resilience. Having received training in qualitative analysis during my doctoral studies, this fellowship provided an opportunity to familiarize myself with quantitative descriptive research and the use of standardized measurement tools. Acquiring this knowledge will contribute to the recognition of my expertise in these areas.”

— Gabriel Gingras-Lacroix

  • Quebec

  • Fellowship

  • University of Quebec at Outaouais

  • Au coeur des famillies agricoles

  • Mitacs, iA Financial Group

  • 2024-2025

  • Workplace Mental Health

  • People at Work, Farmers, Men

About the Project

This project aimed to better understand the mental health of agricultural business owners in Quebec. Specifically, it sought to measure levels of psychological distress, understand attitudes toward seeking mental health support and identify factors that support resilience. The goal was to build a clearer picture of the challenges faced by this population and inform more effective support strategies.

Methodology

The study used an online questionnaire with standardized, French-language tools to measure psychological distress, help-seeking attitudes, and resilience. The survey was shared between February and June 2025 through agricultural organizations and partners, with a total of 87 eligible participants who completed the questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using statistical methods to identify trends and relationships between key factors.

Findings

The study found that:

  • The main source of stress was rising expenses (79.3%), followed by workload, debt, and administrative burden.

  • Men had significantly more negative attitudes toward seeking mental health support than women.

  • Participants who reported better work–life balance showed higher resilience.

  • Higher resilience was strongly linked to lower psychological distress.

The project also revealed challenges in recruiting participants, suggesting that future research should involve agricultural communities more directly from the beginning.

Project Outreach

The project was shared through partnerships with agricultural organizations and community groups across Quebec. Planned outreach includes sharing results with stakeholders, presenting findings at sector events, and continuing collaboration with partners to improve participation and impact.

Resources Created

  • A detailed research report (in progress)

  • A visual summary of key findings for community and sector partners

  • Planned presentations at agricultural and mental health forums