Farmer Wellness by Laura Fraser, OFA Member Service Representative for Oxford/Elgin Counties Laura.fraser@ofa.on.ca With another holiday season behind us, most have returned to day-to- day tasks and events. Temperatures are colder, daylight hours are shorter
seeing great uptake. The Farmer Wellness Initiative (FWI) provides to all Ontario farmers and their families access to free counselling services and tailored mental health support and resources. It is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. By calling the FWI, you’ll be matched with a mental health professional, part of a support network rooted in rural Ontario that understands the unique needs of the farming community, who will offer you free tailored support. Services are available in English and French and can be accessed by phone, virtually, or in-person. The Farmer Wellness Initiative is paid for in part by the governments of Canada and Ontario through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), a five-year federal- provincial-territorial initiative and supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Ontario Division, in part- nership with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). Counselling services are provided by LifeWorks. Other ways to elevate your mood and improve your mental health are to get regular exercise (just 30 minutes a day can help!) eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated, and stay connected. Farming can be a lonely occupation, but you need to know you are not alone. I encourage everyone to share the Farmer Wellness Initiative in their social circles and workplace, and to be that ear for someone who needs it. You never know when it could save a life. Farmer Wellness Initiative 1-866-267-6255 • https://farmerwellnessinitiative.ca
and festive gatherings that once consumed our days are a distant memory for another year. For some, this time of year evokes a feeling of loss or distance from much needed social connection. In the farming community, this feeling is often compounded by seasonal worries such as inclement weather and its many negative impacts on livestock, and mounting pressures of spring planting, to name a few. A recent study completed at the University of Guelph by Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton, Dr. Briana Hagen, and MSc student, Rochelle Thompson, included a survey involving nearly 1,200 farmers from all commodity groups across Canada. Looking at the results, the research showed that Canadian farmers had higher anxiety and depression scores than the general population. They also had higher perceived stress, exhaustion and cynicism. Approximately 83 per cent of farmers had lower resilience scores than the general population, meaning their capacity to recover quickly from difficulties is less than that of others working in different industries. A new initiative to help with the rising mental health issues in agriculture was launched in September of 2022 and is already
For resources or more information, contact Joanne Fuller at joanne.fuller@ofa.on.ca.
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