One in seven Freiburg farmers reports psychological stress
Saturday 22nd August 2026 on 10:15 in
Switzerland
One in seven farmers in the Swiss canton of Freiburg is experiencing psychological stress and finds few moments of happiness, according to a study commissioned by the canton and reported by SRF.
Long working days, little time off and financial worries are among the pressures affecting farmers. Animal husbandry can also be emotionally demanding, said Sabine Müller, deputy director of the canton’s agricultural institute. Farmers often take it extremely hard when their animals are unwell, she said.
Because farms are also family homes, work-related stress can quickly spill over into private life. Müller said family members who work together cannot easily avoid one another. Pressure at the farm can lead to arguments at home, while those conflicts can further worsen psychological problems.
Study highlights extent of stress
The study found that 35.1 percent of farmers surveyed felt stressed at work all or most of the time. In the weeks before the survey, 14.4 percent said they had felt down and depressed most of the time. Only 55.1 percent said they felt happy most of the time, while roughly half felt that their work was appreciated.
Over the past two years, the canton has expanded its support and counselling services. It now offers training to help farmers with administrative tasks, including courses on digital processes and forms.
Müller said the growing use of digital systems was an often underestimated source of stress. More forms and processes must be completed on computers, which can overwhelm some farms. The Grangeneuve agricultural centre, for example, offers training in accounting software designed specifically for farms.
The first feedback on the new courses has been positive, Müller said. She added that psychological problems in farming had long been treated as a taboo, but the Freiburg study had helped bring the issue into the open.
The canton plans to continue regularly assessing the mental health of its farming population so that it can adapt its support services.