Photo courtesy Erika Rolling/Everything GP Staff

By Erika Rolling

Over $388K invested through Sustainable CAP for mental health support of farmers and ranchers

Nov 27, 2023 | 12:53 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The mental health of farm families is being invested in by the provincial and federal governments through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta is receiving $388,500 to create awareness and expand the number of health care supports available to ranchers and farmers through the newly established AgKnow Alberta Farmer Mental Health Network.

AgKnow was created in 2022 and develops, promotes, and delivers evidence-based mental health programming, tools, and learning resources to help farm families and farming communities.

“Alberta farmers can feel immense pressures to support their families and to continue extensive family farm legacies,” said Linda Hunt Pag, the program director of AgKnow.

Through AgKnow, we’re de-stigmatizing farm mental health and making it easier for farmers to access therapy and counseling designed with their lifestyles in mind. With this grant, we’ll be able to expand our programming and develop more educational resources so therapists and counselors across Alberta can better understand and serve farmers.”

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AgKnow also educates therapists, health care providers, and community service organizations to help understand farming culture, issues farmers are facing, and supports available to address mental health concerns.

“Our government is grateful for partners that are supporting mental wellness through initiatives like AgKnow,” said Dan Williams, minister of mental health and addictions and MLA for Peace River.

“As one of Alberta’s most prominent industries, we are committed to providing farmers, ranchers, and their families the support they need.”

To date, AgKnow has hosted 24 workshops and webinars for farmers or therapists, which has reached over 1,500 people.

Since the launch of AgKnow, 12 agriculturally-informed therapists and counselors have helped 39 farm families with mental health support.