An agriculture-specific mental wellness telehealth line is now live and available to all Ontario farmers and farm families.
The Farmer Wellness Initiative provides four free counselling sessions with mental health specialists trained to understand the unique issues impacting farmers, thanks to funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership program in partnership with Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (OMAFRA).
Why it matters: The active phone line is the first step in a multi-year program to facilitate more accessible mental health services for those in the agriculture sector.
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“Providing farm families across the province with free counselling services and helping connect at-risk farmers with tailored support and resources is a greatly welcomed service in rural Ontario,” said Peggy Brekveld, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) president.
The telehealth line is the first of many access points planned for the coming weeks and months, allowing Ontario farmers to take positive action to support their mental health.
“Availability of mental health services has been a big roadblock standing between farmers and their mental wellness,” said Brekveld.
Depending on current pandemic restrictions, the support line will facilitate intake services and arrange counselling by phone, virtually or in person. In addition, a website and app will be launching in 2022 to provide thousands of self-guided support resources.
“This initiative will expand Ontario’s mental health supports for farm families to help them cope with the stresses of their work,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Which will allow them to do what they do best; grow and produce some of the best food in the world.”
If you or someone you know in the agriculture sector is dealing with mental health challenges, please call 1-866-267-6255 to speak to a counsellor. The line is open 24/7 every day of the year, and service is available in French and English.
