Farmers experience stress and suicide ideation at a higher rate than the average population. The Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, is proud to support farmers’ mental health and well-being with our community-based programming and free services in collaboration with the OFA, Ontario and Canadian Governments, and the University of Guelph.
Farmer Wellness Initiative
The Farmer Wellness Initiative provides Ontario farmers, farm families, farm employees, and spouses and dependents of farm employees with free, unlimited mental health counselling, specific to the unique challenges that can be experienced by the agricultural community.
If you’re in need of support, call us anytime. 1-866-267-6255
Intake is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
In the Know
In the Know is a mental health literacy program designed specifically for farmers, their families and those who are involved and/or support the agriculture sector. Through this free, four-hour workshop, participants will cover the topics of stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and how to start a conversation around mental well-being. The workshops are facilitated by one of CMHA’s mental health professionals using ‘real-life’ examples from agriculture.
The Guardian Network
The Guardian Network was developed in collaboration with stakeholder groups, including various agricultural sectors, suicide preventionists, mental health clinicians, government representatives and professionals from social work, psychotherapy, epidemiology, and education.
The Guardian Network is based upon the award winning AGIR en Sentinelle pour la prévention du suicide program created by the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (Suicide Prevention Association of Québec) and the Union of Agriculture Producers in Québec. The curriculum and program have been adapted for the Ontario context.