Thanks to a collaborative funding initiative between the federal and provincial governments, farmers, their families, and ag workers of all stripes will have access to free professional counselling services when and if they’re needed.
A total of $450,000 will be invested into the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program (MFWP) over the next three years.
“Farmers face unique stressors and challenges, but they don’t complain, and they always get the job done,” says Lawrence MacAulay, the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “If they’re struggling with their mental health, we need to be there for them. Through this shared investment under Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, farmers across Manitoba will have better access to the tools and supports they need to continue producing the high-quality products we depend on.”
MacAulay adds that these mental health services establish a focus on the ag industry by employing counsellors who understand the unique stressors faced by their clients, often brought on by extreme climate events, global and market fluctuations, disease outbreaks, and the everyday dynamics of rural life.
“We support the hard work that farmers have committed their lives to and know that being a producer in the ag industry can be difficult,” says Premier Wab Kinew. “This is why it is important to have specialized mental health resources available specifically for producers and their families, and why we are proud to partner with the federal government on this key initiative.”
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment into the agri-food and agri-products sectors.
The first $1 billion is carried solely by the federal government. The remaining $2.5 billion is cost-shared, with 60 percent from the feds and the rest being supplied through programs developed, designed, and delivered by the provinces and territories.
The MFWP is managed by a non-profit organization and was first launched in Manitoba in 2022. The organization’s goal is to provide longer-term counselling support that looks beyond crisis intervention in order to prevent a mental health crisis from occurring in the first place.
MFWP works alongside more than 32 industry partners to provide professional counselling services to those in the ag industry.
“We understand the many challenges that come with farming and how difficult it can be to know where to turn for help when stress on the farm begins to feel overwhelming,” says Marcel Hacault, chairman of MFWP. “This funding will allow us to continue our focus on getting the support producers need without the worry of incurring additional costs.”
