Reading Time: 3 minutes Women have multiple roles on Alberta’s farms and ranches, and navigating the pandemic has taken courage, determination, innovation and forgiving grace. I asked some of them to share their experiences. At first, the fact that the country home was remote seemed a blessing as it reduced the potential exposure to the virus. But as time […] Read more
Schoepp: The pandemic brought stress but also something empowering
A lot of the burden fell on farm and ranch women, but struggle also brought a new strength
G3 offers donation to support mental health in Alberta
Reading Time: < 1 minute G3 is donating $25,000 to Alberta’s Mental Health Foundation to support, enhance and transform mental health and addictions care. G3 said that due to the pandemic, it has been unable to hold grand opening events for its six Alberta grain elevators which opened in 2020 and 2021. It was decided to donate the funds set […] Read more
Discovering the healing power of horses
Reading Time: 4 minutes The bond between human and horse can be a great comfort, and The Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association has found new ways to strengthen that bond during the pandemic. “COVID-19 forced us to be creative,” said Jason Shriner, executive director of the LTRA, a small 30-year-old non-profit. “There were no visitors to the farm, which was […] Read more
In times of crisis, putting the farm first can be a big mistake
Neglecting your mental health during times of high stress is not the way to treat your farm’s top asset
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farming is stressful at the best of times, and with drought piled on top of a pandemic, the farm community is currently experiencing “really high rates of chronic stress,” says an expert. And it’s actually made worse by the strong work ethic of producers when times get tough, said Cynthia Beck, a crop and cattle […] Read more
New network aims to fill the gaps in mental health resources for farmers
Many producers suffer from stress, anxiety and depression — but finding help isn’t easy
Reading Time: 3 minutes Navigating — or even finding — mental health supports for farmers can be difficult, but an effort is underway to change that. “This is an ongoing issue that the government has been aware of for some time,” said Linda Hunt, project co-ordinator with a new initiative called the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network. In 2019, […] Read more
Online forum offers chance to just talk
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Do More Agriculture Foundation is hosting a series of online workshops on mental health. The Talk It Out sessions, which are being held over the next three months, give participants a chance to discuss mental health issues and ask questions. They will be moderated by mental health professional Lauren Van Ewyk. She is a […] Read more
Farmers needed for new national mental health survey
Survey closes May 7
Reading Time: < 1 minute Researchers at the University of Guelph are seeking farmers to take part in a new national survey on mental health. The online survey being conducted by the Ontario Veterinary College seeks to understand the impacts of work on the mental health of farmers. Findings from this study will provide further insight into data previously collected […] Read more
Opinion: Pandemic stress and exhaustion are taking a toll on our farms
Everyone is feeling worn down but on farms, that ups the risk of an accident occurring
Reading Time: 3 minutes January is a weird month. It’s an optimistic time, with a new year bringing resolutions and a sincere hope for life to be better and brighter. But it’s also a dark and slow month on the Canadian Prairies — especially in the rural areas, on the often quieter farms so many of us call home. […] Read more
It’s been a long, hard slog, but there are ways to lessen your load
Everyone is exhausted by the pandemic and needs to recharge emotional batteries, Olds psychologist says
Everyone is exhausted by the pandemic and needs to recharge their emotional batteries, says Olds psychologist
Reading Time: 4 minutes Has burnout become your everyday reality during the pandemic? You’re not alone. More than 2,000 people recently took in a webinar on burnout and “compassion fatigue” by Jody Carrington, a child psychologist from Olds. “I don’t know if any of you are emotionally exhausted in the middle of a global pandemic, but I don’t know […] Read moreFree mental health training workshops on offer
Workshops focus on identifying mental health issues and providing support, but deadline is Oct. 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Do More Agriculture Foundation is accepting applications for its rural mental health training program until the end of the month. The program is aimed at developing the capacity for mental illness identification and support in rural areas. Those taking the program receive education to identify mental health concerns and provide initial supports to producers […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
