The Farmer Wellness Initiative is providing free counselling services tailored to Ontario producers and their families. It’s funded through the CMHA and run by The Guardian Network Program.
Program Manager Marnie Wood says those in the world of agriculture experience higher anxiety, because a lot of their work depends on things out of their control.
A 2016 country-wide agricultural mental health survey showed 35% of farmers meet the classification of depression, 58% for anxiety, and 68% of farmers were more susceptible to stress and mental illness.
Wood says they offer a more peer-to-peer approach with their counsellors.
Wood says the free services they offer come with the schedule flexibility that’s required when operating a farm. You can learn more at farmerwellnessinitiative.ca
Story by Grant Deme
Comments