SALMON ARM – Although causes and organizations have tried to encourage producers to speak up about their mental health over the past decade, reservations remain. While 65 farmers accessed no-cost counselling in English, Spanish and Punjabi during the last growing season that AgSafe BC makes stats available, producers still need to be convinced to reach …
mental wellness
Mental health in the spotlight
Comprehensive financial compensation for BC mink farmers being pushed out of business and growers displaced by the ongoing extreme weather across southwestern BC has yet to be announced, but in both cases the province has been quick to highlight mental health support for growers. The province’s agriculture ministry even went so far as to say …
Mental wellness resources meet a growing need
WILLIAMS LAKE – Growing crops and raising livestock are not only physically demanding, the seemingly endless uncertainties that go along with the work can take a toll on mental health. Between wildfires, drought (or floods), extreme heat, crop and livestock losses, financial concerns, changing regulations, COVID-19 and family expectations, there’s a lot that could keep …
Let’s get real about mental wellness on the farm
Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture industry continues to demonstrate resilience and reliability. It’s on my 2021 agenda to continue to talk about this achievement publicly to continue to educate those outside agriculture, but I’m also marking the beginning of a new year celebrating the growing normalization of talking openly about mental …