A mental health literacy program for farmers and the agricultural community
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 training program, participants will cover the topics of stress, depression, anxiety, substance use disorder 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.
Source: National Survey of Farmer Mental Health, Submission to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food: Strengthening Canada’s Agricultural Sector – A Canadian Network for Farmer Mental Health by Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph (2016)
Interested in joining a Workshop?
To sign up for a workshop near you, please view the calendar of events. Looking to book a workshop for your company, organization, or group? Contact us below.
Community Sessions:
Monday, June 13th – CMHA Kenora Branch
10am – 2pm – Virtual – All Welcome
Register here: https://bit.ly/3LiOqe5
Wednesday, June 22nd – CMHA Sudbury-Manitoulin
10 am – 2 pm – Gore Bay Community Hall (Manitoulin Island)
Register here: https://bit.ly/3yWhYvv
Provincial Sessions:
These sessions are run virtually monthly and are open to anyone to attend.
Monday, June 27th
10am – 2pm – Virtual
Register: https://bit.ly/3PMgCJR
Monday, July 25th
10am – 2pm – Virtual
Monday, August 22nd
10am – 2pm – Virtual
Contact us
For more information about In the Know, get in touch with your local branch, or contact the provincial In the Know team:
Program Manager, In the Know
Lindsay Bebbington at lbebbington@ontario.cmha.ca
Program Coordinator, In the Know
Adriana Van Oostveen at avanoostveen@ontario.cmha.ca
Find more mental health resources that may benefit the agriculture community here.
Program Background
In the Know
In the Know was developed at the Ontario Veterinary College (University of Guelph) to educate the agricultural community. The workshop was created in collaboration with stakeholder groups, including various agricultural sectors, mental health literacy trainers, government and representatives from social work, psychology, epidemiology, and education.
An evaluated pilot of In the Know training in 2019 showed the course increased participants’ mental health knowledge and confidence in recognizing mental health struggles, speaking about mental health, and helping others who are struggling. Spearheaded by Dr. Briana Hagen and Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton of the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph, and a stakeholder team from farming and mental health backgrounds, In the Know aims to build mental health knowledge and increase help-seeking among farmers.
The agriculture community faces unique challenges that cause increased rates of stress, mental health issues and suicide among farmers, compared to other professions and industries. CMHA Ontario is committed to working with agriculture industry partners, organizations, and passionate individuals to provide education, resources and tools for better well-being.
Program Partners
