Farming mental health programs

As a result of numerous roundtable discussions and other engagements with farmers about their mental health concerns, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has partnered with CMHA Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and other mental health and farming sector experts to provide mental health initiatives specialized to support those in the agriculture sector.

The farming community is incredibly resilient and with our partners, we will continue to provide additional supports so that farmers can be at their best.

In The Know	Farmer Wellness Initiative	The Guardian Network

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CMHA resources
Find your local CMHA branch and learn about provincial CMHA resources that may help with mild to moderate anxiety and depression

If you are experiencing a mental health or addictions-related crisis, this web page lists immediate supports and suicide prevention resources. If you require immediate assistance, contact your doctor, go to your local hospital, or call 911, your local crisis line or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
In the Know is a four-hour mental health literacy workshop created specifically to educate the agricultural community. Designed to fit with farmers/producers’ schedules, it distills critical information and incorporates the agricultural community culture.
CMHA branches across Ontario have a wide-range of community-based supports. Depending on the branch, services may include mental health and addictions counselling, crisis services, walk-in counselling, education and training workshops, income supports, case management, justice services, housing supports, employment services, and family/caregiver resources. Find your local CMHA here.
BounceBack is a free skill-building program that uses a combination of telephone coaching, self-help workbooks and online videos to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry. This program offers access to mental health supports from the convenience of home in over 15 different languages.
Mental Health Works is a nationwide social enterprise of CMHA Ontario that can provide agriculture employers capacity-building workplace workshops, presentations and webinars that are person-centred, evidence-based, and solutions-focused, and can help build mental health awareness, teach how to respond to challenging situations, and collaborate to create a healthier, safer workplace.
Living Life to the Full is an eight-week course that provides people from all walks of life with effective tools to maximize their ability to manage life’s challenges. Hosted by select CMHA branches across the province, the group-oriented course is based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, which focus on understanding how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours work together to impact well-being.
Mood Walks is a provincewide initiative that promotes physical activity in nature, or “green exercise,” as a way to improve both physical and mental health. Led by CMHA Ontario in partnership with Hike Ontario and Conservation Ontario, Mood Walks provides training and support for community mental health agencies, social service organizations and other community partners to launch educational hiking programs, connect with local resources, find volunteers, and explore nearby trails and green spaces.

Agriculture sector programs and resources
Information on various mental health supports compiled by agriculture sector leaders including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Do More Agriculture Foundation, Farm Credit Canada, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and 4-H Canada

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has compiled this Mental Health for Farmers – First Aid Kit. It includes information on self care, crisis phone lines, distress centres, stress mitigation resources and other mental health supports.
The Do More Agriculture Foundation (Do More Ag) is a not-for-profit organization focusing on mental health in agriculture across Canada. Its website has a detailed list of national resources including crisis lines, suicide prevention information, addiction supports, and training and education programs. Do More Ag’s blog also has helpful tips and other information on how to support your mental health and well-being. Do More Ag’s Community Fund, with support from Farm Credit Canada, provides agriculture communities across Canada with access to Mental Health First Aid certification at no cost.
Farm Credit Canada’s Rooted in Strength campaign brings awareness to mental health in the agriculture industry with information on stigma, self care, how to help a family member, ways to identify you may be dealing with a mental health concern, stories from real farmers who have lived experience and got help, and a list of provincial help lines.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has a mental health resources page on its website with a list of supports for people in distress. These include ConnexOntario’s 24/7 help line (1-866-531-6000), frequently asked questions for individuals concerned about privacy, and a list of distress and crisis services across the province.
4-H Canada’s Healthy Living Initiative provides tools and resources to its 7,600 volunteer leaders to support the well-being of 24,000 4-H members. Its website includes a section with mental health resources, developed with the support of Kids Help Phone, which includes information on self care, building a support system, accessing resources, supporting a loved one and understanding bullying.

Additional resources
Provincial and national services not directly affiliated with CMHA that can help you find provincial and local resources as well as crisis support

If you or someone you know requires immediate help, consider the following options:

211 is the source Canadians trust when seeking information and services to deal with life’s challenges. 211’s award-winning telephone help line (2-1-1) and website provide a gateway to community, social, non-clinical health and related government services. 211 helps to navigate the complex network of human services quickly and easily, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in over 100 languages.
ConnexOntario can help you with addiction, mental health and problem gambling treatment services by phone, chat, email or its website directory. It also has a mobile app for Apple and Android devices.
Crisis Services Canada is a collaboration of distress and crisis centres from across Canada, offering Canada’s first nationally-available, regionally-delivered suicide prevention service. The Canada Suicide Prevention Service is available to anyone thinking about or affected by suicide. Call toll-free anytime at 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645 between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m. eastern time.
Distress Centres across Ontario offer support and a variety of services to their communities. At a distress centre you can find a listening ear for lonely, depressed, and/or suicidal people, usually 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Many centres also have suicide survivor programs, support services for youth, telephone call out programs for seniors and vulnerable people, mental health crisis lines services and much more.
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. It offers professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French. Kids Help Phone is available by phone, text or live chat.

Farming mental health programs

In The Know

Farmer Wellness Initiative

The Guardian Network

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CMHA resources
Find your local CMHA branch and learn about provincial CMHA resources that may help with mild to moderate anxiety and depression

Agriculture sector programs and resources
Information on various mental health supports compiled by agriculture sector leaders including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Do More Agriculture Foundation, Farm Credit Canada, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and 4-H Canada

Additional resources
Provincial and national services not directly affiliated with CMHA that can help you find provincial and local resources as well as crisis support

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Who We Are

What We Do

Find Us On: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Highlight Bar

In The Know

Farmer Wellness Initiative

The Guardian Network

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CMHA resources Find your local CMHA branch and learn about provincial CMHA resources that may help with mild to moderate anxiety and depression

Agriculture sector programs and resources Information on various mental health supports compiled by agriculture sector leaders including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Do More Agriculture Foundation, Farm Credit Canada, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and 4-H Canada

Additional resources Provincial and national services not directly affiliated with CMHA that can help you find provincial and local resources as well as crisis support

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Who We Are

What We Do

Find Us On: Facebook TwitterLinkedIn

CMHA resources
Find your local CMHA branch and learn about provincial CMHA resources that may help with mild to moderate anxiety and depression

Agriculture sector programs and resources
Information on various mental health supports compiled by agriculture sector leaders including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Do More Agriculture Foundation, Farm Credit Canada, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and 4-H Canada

Additional resources
Provincial and national services not directly affiliated with CMHA that can help you find provincial and local resources as well as crisis support

Find Us On: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn