In a groundbreaking move, the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program (MFWP) proudly announced the extension of its services to encompass farm employees, marking a significant stride in promoting mental wellness and support within the agricultural community.
Effective January 1, 2024, the MFWP is broadening its scope to offer six one-on-one, no-cost, and confidential counselling sessions annually. Professional counsellors with agricultural backgrounds, explicitly catering to non-family farm employees, will facilitate these sessions.
Marcel Hacault, MFWP’s chair, emphasizes the importance of this expansion, stating, “Farm businesses traditionally lack dedicated health and wellness programs for employees, yet the stress of the job is real. We want to change that narrative.”
The decision to include non-family farm employees stems from direct requests and insights from the farming community. Hacault notes, “Farmers approached us to enhance the coverage of our program. As a grassroots organization open to hearing from our stakeholders, we’ve embraced this opportunity to extend our support to all farm employees.”
Remaining true to its vision of promoting mental wellness for Manitoba farm families, the MFWP aims to bridge the gap in mental health services for the agriculture industry.
Roberta Galbraith, MFWP’s vice-chair, expresses gratitude for the support received, saying, “We are thankful for the unwavering support received from the agriculture community thus far through building awareness of our program, financial support, and the growing need for the services we provide.”
“Farmers are not invincible, but we feel like we must be” – a MFWP Survey participant
Individuals seeking more information about the program or wanting to book an appointment can find detailed information on the official website:
manitobafarmerwellness.ca
The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program is a non-profit organization that came into existence on October 26, 2021. Led by a working board of directors, the program seeks to provide one-on-one counselling sessions to farmers and their families seeking mental health services, facilitated by professional counsellors with backgrounds in agriculture. •
— By Harry Siemens