Funding Approved for Alberta Farm Mental Health Network
The Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) and University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus, and the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities have partnered on an initiative to address farmer mental health and well-being and are pleased to announce the launch of the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network (The Network).
The development of The Network is the result of a province-wide assessment of the mental health support services available and accessible to farmers and farming communities throughout most of rural Alberta. The team also examined the stressors farmers typically face and how they can affect their well-being and impact their business and personal relationships.
The findings from this assessment identified a few of the challenges farmers in the West face regarding caring for their mental health. Isolated working conditions, access to lethal means, and little control over factors impacting their business remain the top issues. Accessing services and support in rural locations continues to be a huge challenge.
Evidence from research suggests that even once they identify they need support, knowing where to turn to get the support that fits the culture of the farm remains a huge barrier to seeking help. Mental health expertise and services continue to be in short supply and are concentrated in the urban areas of the province, making access expensive and impractical for many busy farming operations.
Key stressors identified from the assessment include navigating intergenerational farm transitions, rising fuel costs, changes in government regulations, international affairs impacting market prices and supply chains, and of course, unpredictable weather. Top of the list of stressors for the west is mass depopulations of entire flocks or herds due to endemic diseases or extreme weather events. There are more farmers in western Canada under government-mandated depopulation orders than anywhere in Canada, with Avian Influenza and Chronic Wasting Disease being the most prevalent causes.
All too frequently, these situations place the survival of a farm or ranch in question. The emotional and financial uncertainty accompanying these events is difficult for the people affected to deal with and resolve.
Having a robust, healthy farm community is key to all society as farmers and ranchers are the sources of the bountiful and nutritious foods that we all eat.
ARECA and the University of Alberta are very grateful for the financial support received from the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The grant enabled the development and launch of The Network, which represents an important first step to helping farmers across the province by fulfilling four goals:
Establishing our network, called AgKnow
Building mental health capacity among farmers and farm communities
Enhancing farm culture knowledge among health care service providers
Supporting community-based programs in farming communities
When developing The Network, the team consulted individuals from many organizations that provide mental health support services across Alberta, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, Family Community Support Services, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health Advocates Office, Psychologists Association of Alberta and AgSafe Alberta. In addition, the team sought feedback from farmers, individuals working in agribusiness, government, and post-secondary institutions.
For further information, contact Linda Hunt, Director of AB Farm Mental Health Network, at linda@areca.ab.ca.