To The Haldimand Press
A telehealth line that makes mental wellness support available to all Ontario farmers and farm families is now live. It is part of the Farmer Wellness Initiative (FWI), which addresses growing mental health concerns in the agricultural sector with more accessible mental health and wellness support.
“The mental health crisis in the agricultural community has been well documented … and the Farmer Wellness Initiative fills a critical gap for farmers and their families,” says Peggy Brekveld, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). “If you’re part of a farm family in Ontario and need mental health support for any reason, this telehealth line is available to you.”
OFA has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario Division and LifeWorks to develop this initiative. It is the first step of a multi-year, province-wide program that provides free counselling services virtually, in-person, or on the phone by professional counsellors with agricultural backgrounds and training.
The confidential helpline is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the FWI website explains how to use the free service.
To raise awareness, OFA launched the Farmer Wellness Initiative – Fields to Forks campaign. This included ads, a one-minute film specific to FWI, giveaways at the International Plowing Match, and future displays are planned at other farm and rural events.
“We want to make as many farmers and their families as possible aware of this new service and that help is available if someone needs it,” says Bruce Buttar, Chair of the FWI Advisory Committee. “We’ve been developing many resources to help break the silence around mental health, including the new FWI website that helps people identify when they might need help and what happens once they pick up the phone to make that first call.”
Other committee members represent the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, L’Union des Cultivateurs Franco-Ontariens, National Farmers’ Union, Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario, University of Guelph, and the Rural Ontario Institute.
The mental health helpline for farmers can be reached at 1-866-267-6255; additional resources at farmerwellnessinitiative.ca.
