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Panelists speak about the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program at the Keystone Agricultural Producers annual meeting in January. Left to right: Roberta Galbraith, Dr. Brianna Hagen and Gerry Friesen.
News, Other

Farmer wellness program nears critical mass

After a full year of operation, organizers say they’re seeking a significant uptick in awareness and demand

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Efforts to get the word out about the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program have been paying off. “Since New Year’s, we’ve seen a significant jump in people availing themselves of the program,” says program chief administrative officer Gerry Friesen. The program launched in March 2022 as Manitoba’s only free, one-on-one counselling service for farm families. In
Panelists speak about the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program at the KAP AGM. Left to right: Roberta Galbraith, Dr. Brianna Hagen and Gerry Friesen.
Farmit Manitoba, Other

Farmer mental health program struggles with awareness

Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program launched during height of pandemic, which made it hard to promote

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A year into the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, organizers remain frustrated with lack of awareness about their initiative. “We’re trying to figure out how we can build further awareness,” board member Gerry Friesen told attendees at the Keystone Agricultural Producers meeting Jan. 24. “There’s a whole pile of farmers and their families out there that
News

Time for a holistic approach to sustainability?

The term needs to include the human element as well as the environmental and economic

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Building a sustainable agriculture strategy is an opportunity to include mental health in the conversation, says the executive director of the Do More Agriculture Foundation. “Mental health affects everything… or it can be affected by so many things,” said Megz Reynolds. The foundation is a charity that focuses on mental health in the agriculture industry.
‘Rooted in Resilience’ is available as a free download at the Farm Credit Canada website.
News, Other

FCC releases mental resilience resource

Rooted in Resilience being mailed to thousands of rural households

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Farm Credit Canada’s new mental health resource focuses on strategies for dealing with uncertainty and isolation in an increasingly complex world. It launched mental health magazine Rooted in Resilience on Dec. 1, and is mailing it to rural addresses across Canada, said Shannon Weatherall, FCC’s senior vice-president of operations. The focus on resilience was, in
Farmers face a number of uncontrollable factors that can lead to high rates of depression, anxiety, even suicide. (Eclipse_images/E+/Getty Images)

Free mental health training, workshops offered for farmers

Do More Ag Foundation expands programming available

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Farmers seeking mental health support will have access to free training and community workshops for the fourth year in a row via the Do More Agriculture Foundation (DMAF) and Farm Credit Canada (FCC). Factors such as financial insecurity, uncontrollable weather and isolating working conditions contribute to high depression, anxiety and suicide rates among farmers, according
Carrie Pollard (seen here) and Lauren Van Ewyk founded the NFMHA with Libby Ellis to provide specialized training so mental health professionals are better equipped to help farmers.
News, Other

National Farmers Mental Health Alliance seeks to support farmers, rural social support systems

New group offers ag-minded and farm-lived experience training to support farmer mental health in a more relatable approach

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The newly formed National Farmers Mental Health Alliance (NFMHA) offers a way to help farmers get support from people who understand the unique lifestyle and circumstances of farming. “We’re combining real farm-lived experience with our professional practices and connections to develop agriculturally informed therapy training for on-the-ground social workers and therapists to serve farmers, their families and rural communities
Talking through problems can help to manage them. A new program aims to provide farmers with long-term support.
News, Other

Free counselling to be provided to Manitoba farm families

Program to link farmers with ag-knowledgeable counsellors for ongoing mental health support

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Farmers and farm families will have access to free, rurally minded counselling services at the beginning of March, thanks to an initiative started by veterans of Manitoba’s ag community. “Through talking about it, people get better,” co-founder Gerry Friesen told the Co-operator. The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program was co-founded by Friesen, a mediation specialist, former
Reporter Geralyn Wichers attempting to demonstrate that exercise combats stress.
Farmit Manitoba, News, Other

Filling the tool box on mental health and support

Co-operator reporter Geralyn Wichers takes the ‘Talk, Ask, Listen’ workshop

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The three most effective ways of reducing cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, are: exercise, having an ‘ugly cry,’ and eating carbs. Guess which one I like best? This was my “I wish you hadn’t said that” moment of the “Talk, Ask, Listen,” mental health workshop that KAP hosted alongside the Do More Agriculture Foundation on
A previous year’s Tractor Trek makes its way through the countryside near Steinbach.
Farmit Manitoba

Rolling down the road for history and healing

Rain curbed this year’s parade of classic tractors but the Mennonite Heritage Village and Eden Foundation will still see $28,000 from this year’s Steinbach Tractor Trek

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For two classic tractor owners, Steinbach’s Tractor Trek brings together history, hobbies and helping.  “I enjoy driving my tractor and seeing the people enjoy sitting on the side of the road and watching that, or coming to the museum,” said Henry Doerksen who was on this year’s organizing committee for the event.  “It’s just the
News

Province encourages farmers to use mental health supports

Drought conditions have added a new level to farm stress this year

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Farmers are encouraged to reach out for mental health support as drought conditions wear on. “Mental health is something we can never take serious enough. We want to make sure we have those support services for any help that they might need,” provincial Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Ralph Eichler told the Co-operator. Intense stress

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