October 23, 2024
Governments expand mental health supports for nursery growers
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $538,000 through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to expand the Farmer Wellness Initiative to Ontario farm workers. Of that total, nearly $178,000 will be dedicated to supporting the delivery of services in Spanish. Landscape Ontario has confirmed that eligibility is inclusive to all types of farming, including tree and plant nursery growers.
According to a 2021 study conducted by the University of Guelph, 76 per cent of farmers experience moderate or high stress. The Farmer Wellness Initiative, delivered by Agriculture Wellness Ontario and managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, is a suite of free programming that provides farmers, farm workers and their family members in Ontario with unlimited access to a free, 24/7 phone line (1-866-267-6255) that connects them to tailored mental health counselling. Earlier this year, the line expanded to include farm workers, and now the expansion includes the delivery of mental health services in Spanish to better serve international agricultural workers.
Services offered through the 24/7 phone line include crisis counselling, risk assessments, and face-to-face, phone or video sessions with a counsellor.
“Farmers face unique mental health challenges as they work, day in and day out, to provide the resources we all need. They deserve reliable and accessible services to support their well-being,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The Farmer Wellness Initiative is one more way we are expanding access to care, ensuring farmers, farm workers and their families can better connect to quality care that supports their unique needs, where and when they need it.”
Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri‐based products sector. This includes one billion dollars in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.