Ontario farmers and their families can now access more mental health supports

Ontario farmersnow have access to more mental health supports offering counselling, suicide prevention and mental health literacy programs.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has teamed up with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to launchAgriculture Wellness Ontario, which offers three different servicesfor farmers and their families.

They are:

• Farmers Wellness Initiative, which givesfarmers across the province and family membersaccess to free counselling 24/7, year roundin English and French by calling1-866-267-6255.
• The Guardian Network, asuicide prevention program.
• In The Know, a mentalhealth literacy training program developed by University of Guelph (Uof G)researchers for the agriculture community.

Peggy Brekveld, a farmer in the Thunder Bay areaand president of the OFA, said it'simportant for farmers to feel supported and confident they can reach out for help.

She said issues aroundinflation, supply chain, drought and animal illnesses haveput more pressure on local farmers.

"Farming lends itself to a very differentresponse to life. We often try to solve problems by ourselves and work hard.Sometimes we think the solution is just keep working," she said. "Farmers have a lot on their plateon top of the ordinary things like family."

The pandemic also had a significantimpact on many farmers, whoalready work in a profession that can often beisolating, Brekveld said.

A recent surveyout of the University of Guelph found farmers'mental health worsened during the pandemic more than it did for mostCanadians.

"It drove us to even more isolation, as things like county fairs and the curling or hockey rink Imight have gone to were closed," she said.

Breaking barriers and stigma

Brekveld hopes the partnership with CMHA will bring more awareness and ultimately reduce the stigma around mental health.

Andria Jones-Bitton, director of Well-Being Programming at the Ontario Veterinary College at U of G and one of the lead researchers for In the Know, said the partnership between CMHA and OFA acknowledges a need in the agriculture community.

"It's a great sign that we're starting to put resources to the people who really need it in agriculture," she told CBCNews.

In the Knowhas now been delivered in several provinces. In Ontario, Jones-Bitton said,about 350 people have gone through the program and another 300 in Manitoba.

The four-hour workshop teaches people in the agriculture community how to recognize signs of someone struggling with their mental health, and how to connect them to resources and help.

She said efforts likeAgriculture Wellness Ontario helpfarmers and their familiesget help when they need it.

"We know from our previous researchthat time, geography and money can be big issues in accessing help," she said.

Many rural towns don't have the same services asurban cities, forcingfarmers to take several hours outof their day to travel for an appointment.

"What's great about the new programs coming out of the CMHAOntario division is that many of these counselling supports, for example through the Farmer Wellness Initiative, can be done on the farmer's own time via telephone or online or in person," she added.

"I think it's terrific that it's eliminating some of those barriers that we know are an issue."