The Rural Voice, 2019-04, Page 27 Feeling like his life has never
been better, Steve’s eyes tear up as
though he can hardly believe he has
reached this place of hope and joy.
There was a time when his family
worried he might not make it, after
mental illness and hemochromatosis
brought him to a catatonic state
which required eleven electro
convulsive therapy treatments (ECT)
to “repair” his shut-down brain.
Believing many professionals in
agriculture are dealing with severe
stress, Steve hopes by sharing his
story he can help others avoid the
“crash” he experienced in September
of 2017.
Looking back, Steve can see that
while he had a great childhood, both
his parents had their own mental
health issues. As he became a
professional, Steve had “low times”
during periods of high stress. He can
now see through his career
transmutations how extremely long
hours, conflict with managers and a
major house renovation pushed his
mind and body to the limit.
“Men are taught to tough it out
and I think I had to hit rock bottom
before I would seek help,” he says.
By the spring of 2017, while
working as a Precision Agriculture
Specialist for a large company, Steve
was making great money but
working long hours. He had a full-
time assistant and yet he found that
by 10:30 in the morning, he was
desperate for a nap.
“I just kept pushing through,” he
remembers. He had promised a friend
he would do the MS Bike Ride from
Grand Bend to London, a ride he’d
done joyfully for five years
previously. “That was the toughest
ride of my life,” he said.
The week following the MS Bike
Ride, he was soil sampling. It was
extremely hot, there was no shade
and every hour, Steve had to lie
down in the only shade provided by
his truck. “I just felt I had to do this.
There was no choice. I was loyal and
this was my job,” said Steve. He
places no blame on his employers;
this was stubborn-male stuff.
However, being a very social,
communicative and verbal man, he
notes that throughout his career,
when he didn’t feel supported and
encouraged by his managers, it was
April 2019 23
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